The daughter of a former Fiji citizen has become the center of the latest racism row in New Zealand after the blonde haired, blue eyed girl won the Miss India/New Zealand beauty title.

The New Zealand Herald reports that 21 year old Jacinta Lal, who has a Fiji Indian father and New Zealand mother was accused of not looking Indian enough following her victory.

The report said the Lal was booed by spectators when she won the Wellington pageant in April and the case recently came to light in the wake of the resignation of a television presenter Paul Henry who is embroiled in allegations of racism.

Award organiser Dharmesh Parikh told the newspaper he had received complaints questioning Lal's eligibility to be in the pageant and there were also "raised eyebrows" when she competed for the national title in August.

Lal said she had heard people saying that she "was not Indian looking enough to win the pageant."

Parikh said the case highlighted that racism cut both ways, in the wake of the resignation of TVNZ broadcaster Paul Henry over comments about Governor General Sir Anand Satya-nand not "looking like a New Zealander" and his mocking of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit's name.

Lal said there was no difference between what Henry said and the members of the Indian community who criticized her win

Lal's supporters say they are disgusted at the way she was booed.


Story by: Roneel Lal