Whangarei woman shocked to be Miss Universe NZ finalistDANICA MACLEAN/FAIRFAX NZ Miss Universe New Zealand finalist Rebecca Hooker is hoping to use the competition as a platform to normalise the conversation on suicide. A place in the top 20 was definitely not what Whangarei woman Rebecca Hooker expected when she entered Miss Universe New Zealand. The 21-year-old, who is the only Northlander amongst the finalists, says the youth suicide prevention group she runs was her main reason for entering. Hooker, a suicide prevention coordinator at Ngati Hine Health Trust, runs the Raid Movement, and she says she wants to use Miss Universe NZ as a platform to normalise the conversation on suicide. The top 20 are off to the Philippines for two weeks, which forced the cancellation of her 21st birthday celebrations.

Source: Stuff July 19, 2016 03:26 UTC