Miss Earth New Zealand - Miss Christchurch

Christchurch's apathy towards beauty pageantry has resulted in an Aucklander taking the title of Miss Teen Christchurch, the competition director says.

Barbara Osborne, the director of Miss Christchurch 2009 and Miss Teen Christchurch 2009, said anyone within set age criteria could enter the pageant, irrespective of their city of origin.

Osborne said entrants in the competition at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Christchurch on Saturday night had been amazing, but the show lacked atmosphere. Only about 50 people watched.

"There weren't many locals there supporting them.

"I don't know if Christchurch still has old ways of thinking.

"I wish Christchurch had been more supportive."

Miss Teen Christchurch 2009 went to Jana Hurst, of Auckland. It was the 15-year-old's first competition.

Hurst said Osborne had contacted her to suggest she enter the show.

"I felt kind of bad because I was coming from the North Island," she said.

Emma McDonald took the Miss Christchurch 2009 title.

The 19-year-old said she was so excited by the win that she could barely remember the moment her name was announced.

McDonald trains at Southern Ballet six days a week, works part time at a chocolate shop in Merivale Mall and will return to studying for an advanced diploma in beauty therapy in June.

And with beauty sometimes there is pain.

"The crowns are amazing," she said.

"It was really heavy. I've got big bumps on my head from when I was wearing it for half an hour."

McDonald's top spot means she will represent Christchurch in Miss Earth New Zealand in Auckland this year. The winner of that contest will take part in Miss Earth, held in the Philippines.

Hurst has won a place in Miss Teen Oceania.