Franki Russell will represent New Zealand in Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico
FRANKI RUSSELL – The Filipino-New Zealander and former Pinoy Big Brother housemate has been appointed as Miss Universe New Zealand 2024.
She will represent New Zealand in the upcoming Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico City. The announcement was made by Dubai-based magazine Xpedition, highlighting Franki’s role in reshaping traditional perceptions of womanhood.
After a hiatus of four years, Franki Russell will carry New Zealand’s torch in the 72nd Miss Universe pageant. Known for her reality TV appearances and acting career in the Philippines, Franki aims to use her platform to address cyberbullying, a prevalent issue among youth globally.
This will mark the official comeback of New Zealand in the international pageant since its last appearance in 2019. Aside from New Zealand, several countries are returning to the competition after absences, including Belize, China, and Kyrgyzstan, which last competed in 2022.
Previously, Franki Russell attempted her luck in beauty pageants by participating in Miss Universe UAE 2021. Despite knowing that some may not favor her representation of a different country in a national pageant, she expressed her excitement and emphasized the significance of the pageant in celebrating diversity and empowering women with interracial backgrounds.
In a statement on Twitter, Franki thanked her supporters and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to participate in such platforms that break stereotypes and promote empowerment. Unfortunately, the Miss Universe UAE pageant was canceled due to time constraints for preparation.
Meanwhile, Franki Russell rose to fame when she joined the ABS-CBN reality show, Pinoy Big Brother: Otso. Dubbed as the “Wandering Stunner ng New Zealand,” she started her career as a model way back in New Zealand. After her PBB stint, she ventured into acting. She became part of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano starring Coco Martin.
