Emily, 25-Year-Old Chinese Kiwi Competes for Miss Universe New Zealand

Staff Writer: Yiyi Xie
Image Source: Supplied

What’s It Like Being the Only Chinese Contestant in a New Zealand Pageant?

Recently, a Chinese Kiwi contestant Emily secured second runner up in the Miss Asia Pacific NZ 2024 pageant.

In an interview with us, she shared her journey and experiences.

Chinese Aren’t 'Nerds'

Emily’s parents emigrated from Shanghai to New Zealand in 1996, and she was born two years later.

Growing up in Epsom, a central Auckland suburb with a large Chinese community, Emily never felt out of place.

From a young age, she was an active child, excelling in swimming, dancing, and netball. In her own words, she "broke the stereotype of Chinese people being nerds."

Among all the sports, ballet was her greatest passion and the one she stuck with the longest.

At 14, Emily decided not to attend high school but instead enrolled in a ballet boarding school in Melbourne, Australia, to pursue professional ballet training.

However, her experience there was far from ideal. The intense and stressful environment eventually led her to give up on becoming a professional ballerina.

At 18, she returned to New Zealand and began studying computer science at the University of Auckland. After graduating, she didn’t pursue a typical 9-to-5 job in IT. Instead, she opted for freelance work, blogging, managing social media, and forex trading, which gave her ample time for dancing and performing.

She also performed traditional Chinese dances at the Auckland Chinese Culture and Arts Festival. In addition to dancing, Emily played poker for five years, frequently traveling between Australia and New Zealand to participate in tournaments.

"Communicating with Chinese People Is Easier for Me"

As a Chinese New Zealander, Emily experienced the best of both cultures.

Although they lived in New Zealand, her family maintained a very Chinese lifestyle.

“At home, we always eat Chinese food and speak Shanghainese, so I’m fluent in it. But my Mandarin isn’t as good,” she said.

Emily had Chinese lessons at school, but her learning was mostly limited to textbooks. It wasn’t until she befriended many international students from China during university that her spoken Mandarin improved significantly.

Her life and circle has a mix of Kiwis, locals and Chinese peers but are Asian.

"I get along really well with Chinese people. It’s easy to communicate because we can be more direct with each other," she said.

However, growing up in New Zealand, Emily also had friends from diverse cultural backgrounds. To get along with them, she learned to understand their cultures first.

"This way, everyone feels welcome, and no one disrespects another's culture," she added.

In a Beauty Pageant

Emily’s first exposure to beauty pageants was through a family friend who competed and won when she was young. This planted a seed of inspiration in her, and she began imagining herself shining on stage.

Since the age of five, she had dreamed of competing in the Miss Chinese New Zealand Pageant. However, the event was discontinued a few years ago, putting her dream on hold.

This year, at 25, Emily received an invitation to participate in Miss Asia Pacific International NZ 2024. She jumped at the opportunity.

This pageant celebrates diverse cultural backgrounds, with contestants from various countries. Out of 12 finalists, Emily was the only Chinese contestant.

The chance to perform on stage was something she had long awaited. Leading up to the final, all participants attended workshops, rehearsals, photoshoots, and meet-and-greets. For Emily, speaking on stage and answering questions from the judges pushed her out of her comfort zone and helped her express herself confidently.

Emily didn’t have any expectations about her ranking and simply enjoyed every moment of the experience. Her four family members were there to support her.

In the end, she placed second runner up and won the titles of Best in Active Wear, Miss Tourism Kanorau, and Miss Caithy. With Miss Caithy title, Emily became the ambassador for New Zealand skincare brand Caithy Organics.

Soon, she made it into the finalists of Miss Universe New Zealand, where she will showcase herself on an even bigger stage. The final will take place on September 29, New Zealand time, and anyone interested can follow her journey on Instagram @emiilyda.

For Emily, beauty pageants aren’t just about looks or external qualities. They emphasize individuality and inner beauty, both of which are essential aspects of what it means to be beautiful.

Many beauty pageants are also associated with charitable work or social causes. Emily encourages young people to step outside their comfort zones, believing that participating in photo shoots, public speaking, and stage performances can boost one’s confidence.

“I believe pageant contestants are like role models, using the platform to raise awareness about social issues and drive positive social change,” Emily said.