Indian-origin model in Miss Universe New Zealand top 20

A Fiji-born travel consultant and aspiring model of Indian descent has been selected in the top 20 of the Miss Universe New Zealand contest.

If Neekita Naidu wins the Miss Universe New Zealand contest in the grand finale to be held in Auckland Oct 5, she will get to represent New Zealand in the Miss Universe 2013 contest to be held in Moscow later this year.

"I realised at a young age that nothing else would make me experience life more intensely," the Jet newspaper quoted Naidu as saying.

"There is so much to see in this world... meeting people from all walks of life has definitely changed my perception in living and made me more of an open minded person," she said.

The 24-year-old travel consultant, who says modelling is her passion, was born in Fiji's second largest city Lautoka and moved to New Zealand at the age of seven.

"My ambition is to make my mark in this industry and reach the top and win this competition to represent New Zealand at the international stage of Miss Universe in Moscow ," she said.