Manawatu campus students Jasmine Robertson, Courtney Denton-Giles and Lisa Wong took top honours at this year’s Miss Manawatu pageant in Palmerston North, judged first, second, and third, respectively.

Miss Robertson, 20, in her third year of a Bachelor of Agri-Science degree, was crowned overall winner in a ceremony that featured 16 contestants at the Regent on Broadway Theatre on July 9. She hopes to work in the thoroughbred breeding industry after graduation.

Runner-up Miss Denton-Giles, a second-year Bachelor of Communication student, plans to be a journalist; while third place-getter Lisa Wong is studying psychology.

The three spent eight weeks preparing for the pageant and say they enjoyed the experience by maintained their focus on studies and end of semester exams.

Miss Robertson will represent Manawatu at the Miss Universe New Zealand and Miss Earth New Zealand pageants to be held later this year.