Georgia Waddington — An Oli Valenti Campaign

Georgia was crowned Miss New Zealand 2023 after entering her first-ever pageant. Her first title quickly opened the door to the international stage. Later that year, she represented New Zealand at Miss International in Japan, where she won the Miss Photogenic award.

In 2024, Georgia continued her international pageant journey as Miss Charm New Zealand, reaching the Top 20 and receiving the Best Face award.

By the time I was selecting a model for an Oli Valenti fashion campaign, Georgia had already demonstrated not only her beauty, but also her confidence, professionalism and experience in front of the camera.

Why I Chose Georgia for Oli Valenti

When I was selecting a model for this Oli Valenti campaign, I was looking for more than a beautiful face.

I wanted someone who could bring elegance, confidence and individuality to the garments — someone who could understand the character of each piece and express it through movement.

Georgia immediately stood out to me.

She had a natural presence in front of the camera, but what impressed me most was the way she moved. She knew her moves, understood how to work with the garments and was able to create elegant poses and expressions naturally.

For a designer, this makes a real difference.

A garment can look completely different when it is worn by someone who understands how to move with it. The model becomes part of the creative process, helping the fabric, silhouette, and design come alive.

The Oli Valenti Photoshoot at Hamilton Gardens

For this campaign, we chose Hamilton Gardens as our setting.

The gardens provided an exceptional backdrop for the Oli Valenti garments, bringing together architecture, nature and fashion in a distinctly New Zealand setting.

I wanted the photographs to feel elegant and timeless rather than like conventional pageant photographs. The focus was on the garments, their silhouettes, the character of the fabrics and Georgia's natural presence.

The photography was created by Bruce Lim Model Photography.

Working with Bruce and Georgia made the photoshoot a particularly enjoyable creative experience. Georgia was professional, confident, and very comfortable in front of the camera, and she brought her own personality to each look.

For me, the strongest fashion images happen when the designer, model, photographer, clothing, and location work together naturally. This was one of those shoots.

Looking Back at Georgia's Journey

When Georgia Waddington was crowned Miss Universe New Zealand 2026, I was genuinely very excited for her.

I had chosen Georgia to model Oli Valenti garments before she received this new national title, so it was especially wonderful to watch her journey continue and see her achieve another significant milestone in New Zealand pageantry.

Georgia was crowned Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 in Auckland in July 2026 and will represent New Zealand at the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico in November.

Looking back at our 2025 photographs, I am proud that this Oli Valenti campaign became part of Georgia's journey.

More Than a Fashion Photograph

At Oli Valenti, I believe fashion is not only about the garment itself.

It is also about the person wearing it.

Every campaign creates a moment in the story of a garment — bringing together the designer's vision, the character of the model, the creativity of the photographer,

and the atmosphere of the location.

The 2025 Hamilton Gardens campaign with Georgia Waddington is one of those moments in the evolving story of Oli Valenti, an independent New Zealand designer brand born in the Bay of Plenty.

I was delighted to work with Georgia then, and I am even more delighted to see where her journey has taken her since.

Congratulations, Georgia, on becoming Miss Universe New Zealand 2026. I wish you every success as you represent New Zealand on the international stage.

Campaign Details

Designer: Olia Alpatskaya — Oli Valenti Brand: Oli Valenti

Model: Georgia Waddington Campaign: Oli Valenti Fashion Photoshoot Year: 2025 Location: Hamilton Gardens, New Zealand Photography: Bruce Lim Model Photography