Whangarei beauty takes title | Northland News | Local News in Northland

The glamorous life of a beauty queen is beckoning and Whangarei student Jennifer Lambly is relishing her first taste of it.

She beat 17 rivals to win the Miss Auckland 2011 title at a pageant in Auckland on Saturday, and City of Sails citizens will pay homage to the new star as she waves regally while wearing her crown in the Farmers Santa Parade along Queen St on November 27.

Jennifer said she had become the centre of attention with friends and Facebook fans inundating her with congratulatory messages.

"Everyone wants a photo with me. My family are so proud - I've had to tell them to calm down and chill out."

Lots more public appearances are planned before she competes in the Miss Universe New Zealand pageant in Wellington in June next year. Victory there would give her a place in the Miss Universe contest, held overseas and previously won by only one New Zealander, Lorraine Downes, in 1983.

Yesterday Jennifer said she had left Auckland to take a break from the limelight with her family in Whangarei and go to the beach with friends.

The 21-year-old was born in the United States and came to New Zealand at age two with her parents, John Lambly and Bobbi-Jo Crane, and older brother Christopher, 24.

Young Jennifer attended Kokopu Primary School and Whangarei Girls' High School before becoming a boarder at St Cuthbert's College in Auckland for forms 5-7. She spent 2009 working as a nanny in England and travelling in Europe and last year started an arts degree course in social sciences at the Auckland University of Technology.

Jennifer is interested in music, dancing and fashion, which tied in nicely with the choreography in the Miss Auckland show.

She used to play hockey in Whangarei, but jogging for fitness is the closest she gets to sport these days, apart from loving to watch rugby. She worked in the Heineken corporate lounge at Eden Park and enjoyed many Rugby World Cup games, including the final.

Has she got a boyfriend?

Chuckle, chuckle ... "I won't comment," she said.

Jennifer said the degree she was seeking would be useful if she decided on a business career, working in the field of human resources. But she was also attracted to news reporting and television presenting and would look into them.

As well, participation in the Miss Auckland pageant had opened the door to prospects in other careers she intended exploring. "There's lots of opportunities. It's exciting," she said.