Career
There was subsequently controversy, with claims that some of the judges had been pressured to select a blonde. She represented New Zealand at the Mission Universe 2011 pageant in Brazil. Puketapu had previously competed for the Mission Universe New Zealand title in 2009 where she was placed first runner-up.
Puketapu did not make it into the top 16 to quality for the finals of the Mission Universe 2011 competition.
Puketapu, of Te Āti Awa descent, is a Wellington-based journalism student. She finished Horowhenua College in 2008.
