I have personally met Collette Lachore at the height of 2011 Rugby World Cup and I can honestly say that she has the potential. That is why it did not come to me as a surprise that this young lovely lady won the Miss World New Zealand 2012 contest. There are many traits that Collette possesses that makes me think that she is the right girl to represent New Zealand at Miss World. First and foremost is her sweet look. I admit that the very first time I saw her, she looks naïve and innocent by beauty pageant standards. But these traits are something that Maju and Unnur possessed - sweet looks, innocent aura, soft features. If Collette can find the right way to channel these to the prying eyes of the judges and more importantly to Julia Morley, then she has a great chance to snatch that elusive crown.

Collette has a towering height as well and she has a lithe, ballerina like body. Okay, I know Julia Morley said that one can be 5’1” and still be Miss World but really when did it ever happened? For Julia to complain that countries send unrealistic beauties – read, height-endowed delegates – is off key. The reason why countries are sending tall delegates – taller than the national average – is because they want to send the very best. And height is one of the key advantages to get noticed! Collette Lachore will certainly ace this category.

So how can Collette increase her chances even further? First she needs a whacky but not tacky costume. Ivian’s “Barbie doll” dress was a whack but was never tacky thanks to the way she carried it. It was brilliant idea to stand out from the rest. I am thinking that black or royal blue suits Collette best. Something elegant with peripheral wackiness into it like a clean design all the way down and then busy hemlines. Maybe we ask the resident Missosology designers to come up with brilliant designs.

Collette can also stand out by being different and eye catching at the Dances of the World. She can don a Maori costumes and do that dance – not haka but something like that Maori whirling white pompoms dance. I would love to see that indeed.

Miss World winners lately are known to have soft features with sweet beauty – something that I have trouble of truly describing. One has to feel it and it largely dependent on how a contestant projects it. Ivian went a whole length of inconvenience just to soften her strong figures and by golly she reaped the benefits big time. Collette don’t have to go all that trouble for she is 100% natural – a vow that her National Director Rose Foulger has affirmed.

As such, Collette’s main worry is her styling. How can she keep that soft, sweet aura and project it successfully. Whatever course of action that Miss World NZ has to take or whatever the outcome of Collette’s campaign at the main pageant, I can conclude this early, that Collette is indeed the right girl to represent New Zealand at Miss World 2012.