Draft:Franki Russell

Franki Russell (born July 24, 1994) is a New Zealand-Filipino actress, media personality, model and beauty queen who was appointed Miss Universe New Zealand 2024. She is expected to represent New Zealand in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in November 2024.

In 2019, Russell moved to the Philippines to pursue a professional modelling career, eventually making an appearance as a housemate on Filipino reality television show, Pinoy Big Brother. She then began pursuing an acting career in 2022 where she starred in ABS-CBN's, Ang Probinsyano, alongside her Pinoy Big Brother housemate Diana Mackey and several other Filipino films and television series.

Russell competed in the Miss Universe United Arab Emirates 2021 pageant where she advanced to the top 30 finalists. On March 21, 2024, Russell was appointed as Miss Universe New Zealand 2024, the first delegate from New Zealand to compete in Miss Universe in five years.

Early life and education
Russell was born and grew up in Dunedin, New Zealand, to a European-New Zealand father and a Filipina mother.

At the age of 18, she moved to Sydney, Australia with her older brother. She then relocated to the Philippines in 2019 at the age of 24 to pursue a career in modeling and soon after acting.

Miss Universe United Arab Emirates (UAE) 2021
In 2021, Miss Universe United Arab Emirates (UAE) held its first pageant which allowed the participation of UAE citizens and residents who have lived in the UAE for at least three years. On October 14, 2021, Russell who then resided in Dubai revealed on a Twitter post that she would be participating in the pageant, saying;"'It may not be the flag that you prefer, but I am so excited because this particular pageant represents a lot more than that... Diversity, celebrating girls from all cultural backgrounds, breaking stereotypes and empowerment. I always want to try something new and challenge myself every day, while having fun and staying true to who I am... Lets grow and step out of our comfort zones together... To those who have shown their support, I see you and I feel so blessed.'"Russell advanced to the top 30 finals, however, supposedly due to time constraints the pageant was cancelled.

Miss Universe 2024
On March 21, 2024, Russell was appointed and crowned as Miss Universe New Zealand 2024 at a sashing event at The Alpha Suites in Makati City. She will compete in Mexico at Miss Universe 2024, the 73rd edition of the pageant, making her the first New Zealand representative since 2019 to compete at Miss Universe.