Miss Universe director defends costume choice

For immediate release

Miss Universe New Zealand's director defends national costume choice

Auckland, August 24 (JY&A Media) A story that appeared online last week suggesting that Val Lott, director of the Miss Universe New Zealand pageant, did not support the winner in securing a national costume has been attacked as a 'fiction'.

Ms Lott says the story features misquotes and there was support from the pageant in securing a national costume.

The story that appeared in the Australian-owned Stuff website failed to mention that Miss Universe New Zealand 2010, Ria van Dyke, has worn an outfit from an American designer, Sherri Hill, only after three dozen New Zealand designers refused to support her, and some New Zealand designs were deemed unsuitable for a pageant.

Not long after winning Miss Universe New Zealand, Miss van Dyke was deemed one of the most likely delegates to win the international title. This caught the eye of Sherri Hill, who offered to make a gown featuring a silver fern.

'At the end of the day, Ria had to be comfortable with what she wanted to wear, and I encourage the winner to be active in find that item. While I had local contacts prepared to make the national costume, Ria chose to go with Sherri, and I fully support her decision,' says Ms Lott.

Ms Lott says she would have preferred a New Zealand designer, as did Miss van Dyke, but Sherri Hill presented an immediate, professional solution.

'We are all very proud of our beautiful Ria and I was delighted to secure New Zealand sponsors for ball gowns, cocktail dresses, other clothing and accessories, health products, gym membership, beauty products, photography and, above all, pay the Miss Universe fee plus an all-expenses trip including travel insurance,' she adds.

'It is unfair for certain journalists to try to bring Miss New Zealand down days out from the Miss Universe finals, something that seems to happen with worrying frequency.

'I am concerned about the lack of respect shown by some journalists when the patriotic thing to do is to get behind New Zealand.

'If they had simply asked Ria or myself about the situation, we would have happily told them, rather than represent opinion as fact.'

She notes that the 2010 pageant was the most successful in years, and irresponsible reporting only served to hurt the interests of Miss van Dyke and the many sponsors—including the many New Zealand fashion designers who did provide clothing and accessories—who participated.

'We found a wonderful Miss Universe New Zealand pageant for 2010, had lots of memorable outings and ended up with a wonderful Miss Universe New Zealand. It is only from the generous sponsorship of our sponsors, in particular the Museum Hotel this year, that we can produce a wonderful pageant.

'We wish Ria all the best for the final night.'

The Miss Universe pageant airs today in the United States, on NBC and Telemundo.

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