Queenstown's beauty queen
A Queenstowner is off to China at year's end to represent New Zealand at the Mrs United Nations International pageant.
Sheetal Bhatt, 44, secured the spot by finishing second runner-up at the recent Mrs Aotearoa Beauty Pageant held in Auckland.
She also won the 'most articulate' award at the same event.
Originally from India, Bhatt got her first taste of beauty pageants in 2019, when she finished first runner-up at Mrs International Indie Royal in Dubai, which was open to Indians from around the world.
In Auckland she paraded in a gown, swimsuit and NZ national costume, and also answered questions from the judges on stage after giving an introduction.
Bhatt, who works five days a week as a cook at Arvida Queenstown Country Club's care centre and teaches two days a week at Curious Minds Early Learning, says the pageant wasn't just about outer beauty but also female empowerment.
She entered as a way of learning about NZ and its culture, having come to Queenstown from India three years ago. "It's my first step to come closer to NZ."
Through the pageant she's also fundraised for an Auckland charity, BRAVE, which supports young people affected by sexual harm. She also teaches yoga online to Indian women entering beauty pageants — "yoga is part of my life".
As for residents of the Queenstown Country Club retirement village, Bhatt says they love her unconditionally.
"When I'm dressing up they go, 'oh, Sheetal, you are looking great'. I'm like, 'don't, I'm blushing now'."
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