What's next for beauty pageant queens

LAWRENCE GULLERY | Saturday, December 17, 2011 8:00

PAGEANT ROYALTY: Miss Hawke’s Bay Alexandra Bullot, 18, of Taradale, (left) with Miss Teen Hawke’s Bay, Starla Sadd, 16, of Havelock North during their first duty as the reigning pageant Queen and Princess, at a photo shoot with Hawke’s Bay Today at Marine Parade, Napier. Photograph: Glenn Taylor HBT114640-08

Miss Hawke's Bay 2011 photo shoot Napier

Miss Hawke’s Bay Alexandra Bullot, 18, of Taradale, (left) with Miss Teen Hawke’s Bay, Starla Sadd, 16, of Havelock North during their first duty as the reigning pageant Queen and Princess, at a photo shoot with Hawke’s Bay Today at Marine Parade, Napier. Photographs: Glenn Taylor

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They've got the pageant crowns, they've got the winning red sashes, so what's next for Alexandra Bullot and Starla Sadd?

For Alexandra, who was crowned Miss Hawke's Bay 2012, the next year should offer a chance to take a step closer to a career in fashion.

The Napier 18-year-old is heading to Massey University in Wellington to begin a bachelor of business studies, majoring in accounting and small business.

"I'm really into fashion and want to learn the business side of it," Alexandra said.

"Fashion is a big part of pageants and this experience has helped me learn how to talk and present to a whole lot of different people.

"In business you are put into situations where you have to meet a variety of people you may not know and it's about how you present yourself so that's something really important.

"The hardest thing for me in the pageant was the speeches, because I struggle so much with my dyslexia, but I think I can do it well if I put my mind to it," she said.

Starla, 16, was crowned Miss Teen Hawke's Bay and hopes her new-found confidence from the pageant will show other girls "you can achieve if you try".

"I tried this and what do you know, I won and for me this whole experience has given me 10-times more confidence," she said.

"I think my father was shocked. Dads don't really talk about their emotions but the first thing he said to me was, 'I am so proud of you and I love you'.

"My dad doesn't drink at all but that night he went home and had two beers, so that must have been a special night for him."

Miss Hawke's Bay 2012 winners

Miss HB 2012, Alexandra Bullot
Miss Teen HB 2012, Starla Sadd
Miss 170 Below Events, Alicia Kirkpatrick
Miss Charity Queen, Alanah Rosvall
Miss Speech, Starla Sadd
Miss Glamour, Starla Sadd
Miss Beach Body, Georgia Morgan
Miss Talent, Alexandra Bullot
Miss Interview, Alexandra Bullot
Miss Dedication, Alanah Rosvall
Miss Fit, Lydia Paxie
Miss Personality, Georgia Morgan
Miss Photogenic, Lydia Paxie