Find out why Miss New Zealand thinks competing in Manila is ‘fate’

Like all Miss Universe 2016 candidates, Miss New Zealand Tania Dawson is excited to see the Philippines, but unlike most, Dawson shares a deeper connection to the country.

The beauty queen from New Zealand is proudly half-Filipino, with a mother hailing from Santa Maria, Pangasinan.

In a short video from the Miss Universe Facebook page, she shared how competing in Manila feels like “fate.”

“My mom's half-Filipino. It's such a coincidence to be competing as Miss Universe New Zealand in the Philippines. In a way, it kind of feels like fate that I'm here because I've come to a country that I'm familiar with,” she said.

Dawson added, “I'm so excited and it's just so amazing to see how proud they are and how excited they are to have someone that's in the family to be competing in Miss Universe.”

In her own Instagram page, New Zealand's beauty queen even shared some throwback photos from her vacation in the Philippines years ago.

 

This is with my Filipino family in 2012. Can't wait to be reunited ???? #munz #missuniversenz #missuniverse2016 #65thmissuniverse #newzealand #philippines #pinoy #missuniverse #family

A photo posted by MISS UNIVERSE NZ 2016, Tania (@tpdgurl) on

Jan 8, 2017 at 12:58am PST

 

????Throw back to 2012 when I was in Baguio ????

A photo posted by MISS UNIVERSE NZ 2016, Tania (@tpdgurl) on

Jan 10, 2017 at 11:06pm PST

Dawson also visited her family in Pangasinan before heading to Manila for the start of the Miss Universe 2016 activities.

 

Before arriving in Manila today I went and saw my family in Pangasinan ????‍????‍????‍????????‍????‍????‍????????‍????‍????‍????????‍????‍????????‍????‍????‍????????‍????‍????‍????????‍????‍????‍???? #newzealand #philippines #65thmissuniverse #munz #missuniverse #samala #roadtomissuniverse2016 #missuniversenz

A photo posted by MISS UNIVERSE NZ 2016, Tania (@tpdgurl) on

Jan 12, 2017 at 12:31am PST

 

My supportive family here in the Philippines ???????????????????? Thank you so much ????#65thmissuniverse #missuniverse #missuniversenz #munz #bagiuocity

A photo posted by MISS UNIVERSE NZ 2016, Tania (@tpdgurl) on

Jan 17, 2017 at 8:57pm PST

The Grand Coronation Night of the 65th Miss Universe pageant will be held on January 30, 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Watch the prestigious international pageant conclude another year live on GMA Network at 8:00 a.m. — AT, GMA News