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Originally from the Philippines, Miss Grand New Zealand 2025 Gazelle Garcia, 33, is currently based in Auckland, New Zealand. In 2007, she graduated from Philippine Normal University in Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines.

In 2011, Garcia graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in Sampaloc, Manila with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. In 2012, she moved from the Philippines to New Zealand.

Founded on April 28, 1611, the University of Santo Tomas has the oldest extant university charter in Asia. In terms of enrollment found on one campus, it is one of the largest Catholic universities in the world.

Miss Grand International 2025

The 58th edition of Miss Universe New Zealand was held at the Dorothy Winstone Centre Performing Arts Centre in Auckland on September 29, 2024. Including Garcia, a total of 16 candidates competed for the title.

Garcia was runner-up to Victoria Velasquez Vincent. The former competed again in the 59th edition of the national beauty pageant and battled it out with 12 other candidates at the SkyCity Theatre in Auckland on June 24, 2025.

It was Abbigail Sturgin who won the Miss Grand New Zealand 2025 title. Garcia was third runner-up to Sturgin and was crowned Miss Grand New Zealand 2025.

Representing New Zealand, Garcia will face more than 70 other Miss Grand International 2025 candidates at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand on October 18, 2025. Also confirmed to compete for the title are Joy Omachonu, 24, of Nigeria and Silvia Oliveira, 25, of Portugal.

The Miss Globe 2020

Garcia has been competing in beauty pageants since she was a teenager. When she competed at Miss Asia Pacific International New Zealand 2020 candidates in Auckland on October 10, 2020, she ranked second among nine candidates and was crowned The Miss Globe New Zealand 2020.

Representing New Zealand, Garcia competed against 41 other candidates at The Miss Globe 2020 at the Olympic Park in Tirana, Albania on November 12, 2020. She finished in the Top 15.

It was Lorinda Kolgeci of Kosovo who won the title. The respective first, second, third and fourth runners-up were Evgeniya Matveeva of Siberia, Naomi Chioma of Ghana, Thawany de Faria of Brazil and Rowena Sasuluya of the Philippines.