Miss Universe Contestant Jewellery: Behind the Scenes of the Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 Photoshoot
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Time to read 4 min
A Celebration of Elegance, Storytelling & New Zealand Craftsmanship
Over the past few weeks, our collaboration with Miss Universe New Zealand has continued to unfold in the most exciting and inspiring ways. After first sharing the news of our partnership and the custom Miss Universe contestant jewellery pieces created especially for the competition, we’re delighted to look back on another memorable moment in this journey: the official Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 photoshoot.
Held on the 25th of April, the photoshoot brought together 17 remarkable contestants from across Aotearoa, each wearing selected Arapawa Blue Pearls jewellery pieces for the occasion. The atmosphere throughout the day reflected everything we love about this collaboration - elegance, individuality, confidence, and a genuine appreciation for New Zealand-made artistry inspired by unique blue pearls of New Zealand.
While we were not present during the photoshoot itself, seeing the final images and hearing about the energy behind the scenes reminded us exactly why this partnership feels so meaningful.
This collaboration has always been about more than jewellery alone. It’s about celebrating women, storytelling through craftsmanship, and showcasing the beauty of New Zealand’s unique pāua pearls through pieces entirely made and grown in New Zealand. We are so proud to share our passion and see the wonder in the eyes of women discovering pāua pearl jewellery for the very first time.
Miss Universe Contestant Jewellery Designed to Tell a Story
From the very beginning of this partnership, the goal was to create jewellery that felt deeply connected to New Zealand.
For the Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 collaboration, the jewellery pieces loaned for the photoshoot were carefully chosen to complement a wide range of personalities and styles. Some contestants gravitated toward delicate and minimal designs like the Torea Oval Earrings, while others embraced more distinctive pieces, such as the Small Paua Shell Necklace, which is directly inspired by the real size of a baby pāua.
That balance between sophistication and authenticity is something we’ve always valued within our collections. Our jewellery is designed to feel elegant without losing the natural beauty that makes New Zealand blue pearls and pāua so distinctive.
The Miss Universe New Zealand team has consistently shown genuine enthusiasm for our Miss Universe contestant jewellery collection, showcasing the beauty of rare blue pearls.
Maria Siayngco visiting Arapaoa Island with her team to discover our craftsmanship and select the jewellery worn by the Miss Universe contestants during the photoshoot.
Behind the Scenes of the Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 Photoshoot
Photoshoots always carry a unique kind of excitement behind the scenes. There’s the anticipation of seeing styling concepts come together, the energy shared between contestants, photographers, makeup artists, and organisers, and the countless small moments unfolding in between the final images.
A special thank you to Johans Lucena for the photography and to @lensbymacar for the beautiful styling throughout the photoshoot.
The imagery captured throughout the day reflects a beautiful balance between glamour and authenticity - something that aligns perfectly with the spirit of Miss Universe New Zealand today.
For us, it’s especially meaningful to see blue pearls represented in such a modern way. Pearls have long been associated with timeless elegance, but this collaboration beautifully demonstrates how contemporary and fashion-forward blue pearls and pāua jewellery can also be.
This photoshoot perfectly showcased how Miss Universe contestant jewellery can combine elegance, individuality, and natural New Zealand inspiration.
We’re incredibly proud to finally share the result of this photoshoot with you.
The Contestants Featured in the Photoshoot
It was truly wonderful to see our jewellery styled by such a talented and diverse group of contestants throughout the Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 photoshoot.
Be sure to support and follow the featured contestants as they continue their journey toward the national competition.
Miss Universe New Zealand contestants wearing Arapawa Blue Pearls jewellery
Featured Contestants
- Alex Stephanie Wong – Instagram: @alexstephanie.amboy
- Georgia Waddington – Instagram: @gwaddington
- Caroline Thomas – Instagram: @carolinetthomass
- Andrea Ramirez – Instagram: @andrearamirez_05
- Hannah Reta Paea – Instagram: @miss_hpaea
- Laura Nicholson – Instagram: @_laura_nic
- Luca Eve March – Instagram: @lucaeve__
- Hollie Lintott – Instagram: @hollielintott
- Grace Lee – Instagram: @hxxkyo
- Rebekah Nicole Hart – Instagram: @bbekah02
- Emily Faulkner – Instagram: @emily_g_faulkner
- Julie Mae Dela Cruz – Instagram: @liemae24
- Hannah Cross – Instagram: @han.nahcross
- Jade Clifford – Instagram: @jaddibabbi1
- Shahana Begum – Instagram: @_shahanabegum
- Ina Babic – Instagram: @ina_babic
- Mikayla Ahkiau – Instagram: @mikayla_ahkiau
Discover the Beauty of New Zealand Blue Pearls
One of the reasons this collaboration with Miss Universe New Zealand feels so special is how naturally it reflects the spirit of New Zealand itself. Inspired by the ocean, the sounds, and the unique beauty of Aotearoa, our pāua pearl jewellery celebrates a more organic and distinctive vision of elegance.
Unlike the classic white pearls most people are familiar with, these colourful blue pearls reveal a completely different character. Grown sustainably on our farm, these unique blue pearls from New Zealand showcase colours that shift beautifully in the light, with deep ocean blues, silver undertones, soft greens, and iridescent reflections that make every piece feel vibrant and alive.
Pāua pearl necklace
These rare blue pearls take four to five years to grow inside the shell of the pāua. No two pearls are ever exactly alike, each one carries its own natural shape, colour variations, and unique lustre, making every jewellery piece entirely one of a kind, just like the women wearing them throughout the Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 photoshoot.
You can now discover our collection and explore the official Miss Universe contestant jewellery worn by the contestants throughout the photoshoot.
Looking Ahead to the Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 Grand Finale
This photoshoot was only one chapter in what has already become a very meaningful collaboration for us. We’re so excited to continue sharing more moments from this journey in the months ahead.
If you would like to learn more about this partnership, we also invite you to read our previous blog article dedicated to the partnership with Miss Universe New Zealand.
As the competition continues, excitement is already building toward the Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 Grand Finale, taking place on 28 July 2026. For this very special occasion, the grand finalists will have the opportunity to receive exclusive jewellery pieces.
We cannot wait to reveal more behind-the-scenes content and unforgettable moments as the competition unfolds.
Stay connected with us and with Miss Universe New Zealand for the next stages of this beautiful collaboration.
From left to right: Shahana Begum wearing the Blue Essence Necklace and Hannah Reta Paea wearing the Pāua Haliotis Stud Earrings.
Author: Emma Comman
