For immediate release JY&A Media

Contacts: Jack Yan, Publisher (Wellington) Lucire T 64 4 387-3213, F 64 4 387-3213 E jack.yan@jyanet.com

Val Lott, Director Miss Universe New Zealand T 64 9 535-7782, C 64 27 476-7003 E lotts@xtra.co.nz

Judge defends Miss Universe New Zealand Laural Barrett

Wellington, April 5 (JY&A Media) Lucire publisher Jack Yan, who was a judge at last Saturday's Miss Universe New Zealand pageant, says that certain parties in Christchurch have acted ‘despicably’ in trying to smear the winner, Laural Barrett.
   Miss Barrett was reported in The Press today as having been sacked from a shoe store, Wild Pair, in a 2005 incident.
   ‘I wonder if this does Laural more damage, or Wild Pair's brand,’ he says.
   ‘It sounds to me like The Press is indulging a few insecure Cantabrians in a case of guilty till proved innocent. They are trying to drag down Laural and Wild Pair.’
   Mr Yan says, ‘The simple fact is that no wrongdoing occurred if neither Miss Barrett nor her sister were charged. Any right-minded New Zealander would see that that was obvious.’
   Mr Yan says he agrees with pageant director Val Lott that the story was an example of ‘tall poppy syndrome’ but added that he was disappointed that the matter even emerged.
   ‘I am surprised it still happens. It's 2007, for crying out loud. People are not interested in non-events,’ he says.
   ‘Miss Barrett is up to 100,000 Google references, which is the fastest rise I have seen of any New Zealander. Inevitably, there will be backlashes from some quarters.
   ‘The judges fully support her. The pageant fully supports her. And from what I can tell from the night, and from the reactions I have had publicly, the majority of New Zealand supports her.
   ‘We are talking about a tiny, fringe element bullying a 20-year-old for something she is innocent of doing.’
   Mr Yan believes that Miss Barrett will be a ‘fabulous’ ambassador for New Zealand. ‘I have already made bets with one other pageant owner on how well Laural will place,’ he says.
   He says that there are Christchurch businesses who have who have been similarly disturbed by the story and have reached out positively to Miss Barrett.

Images
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About Lucire
Lucire, the global fashion magazine (www.lucire.com), started on the web in 1997. In October 2004, it became the first magazine in its sector to extend its brand into a print magazine. By May 2005, it became the first web magazine to spawn two national print editions. Lucire became the first fashion industry partner of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, www.unep.org). It is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand and published by Lucire LLC. For print edition information, see <http://www.lucire.net>.

Notes to editors
Lucire is a registered trade mark of Jack Yan & Associates and subject to protection in certain jurisdictions. The Miss Universe logo is a registered trade mark of Miss Universe LP, LLLP. All other trade marks are the properties of their respective owners and are only used in a descriptive fashion without any intention to infringe.

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