The girls taking part in the international pageant will need sponsorship to help get them to the US and Ainzley’s grandma Joan has already started fundraising, running a raffle in Tolaga Bay.
The Face of Beauty International is a national pageant that provides a platform for women and teens to showcase individuality, build confidence and represent their country at the global Face of Beauty International competition.
Central to the programme is the I AM ME initiative, which emphasises community service and charitable fundraising.
The NZ branch was established in 2012 by Zaley Tamihana-Brown and Ashreen Nand of A-Z Pageants NZ.
The international competition has been hosted in Thailand, Taiwan, Mongolia, India and the Philippines.
“Ainzley’s win is not just a personal triumph, but a milestone for every girl who has not always seen herself reflected in spaces like these,” Tamihana-Brown said.
“Entering the competition with integrity, mana and the unwavering support of her community, Ainzley’s presence is a bold and beautiful statement [that] ‘we belong here, too’.”
Over the next year, she would have opportunities to grow in confidence, refine her skills and develop her presence on and off the catwalk, Tamihana-Brown said.
Contestants were judged on confidence and stage presence, intelligence and communication skills, charitable spirit and leadership, cultural representation and advocacy, and “beauty with purpose” — balancing outer beauty with inner values.
Ainzley Cann (left) from Tolaga Bay has been crowned the Teen Face of Beauty New Zealand. She is pictured with last year’s winner Riley Roebuck.