DANCING QUEENS: Lorraine Downes and Beatrice Faumuina dazzled on the dancefloor last night for the grand final of Dancing With the Stars. Downes emerged the winner of the popular TV dance contest.
NEIL MACKENZIE/Dominion Post
 |
Former Miss Universe Lorraine Downes has a new crown to add to her haul after she and partner Aaron Gilmore took the Dancing With the Stars title last night.
The pair gave polished renditions of the waltz, paso doble and a free style dance and got the judges' nod, scoring 115 out of a possible 120 for their three dances. Their scores did not dip below nine out of 10, and included seven top marks.
They scored perfect marks for their freestyle dance, and their poise saw them head off fellow finalists Beatrice Faumuina and Brian Jones, who scored 105 from the judges.
After being crowned, Downes said "the experience is bigger" than winning her Miss Universe crown.
"I just have to say to all you people out there, all New Zealanders, thank you for voting, thank for voting for Child Cancer.
"This is what the show was about and we're just thrilled to be able to give them a big cheque," she said.
The finalist couples were last night joined by the other "celebrities" to dance for charity during the series; former Work and Income New Zealand boss Christine Rankin, nine-times Coast-to-Coast winner Steve Gurney, former Shortland Street actors David Wikaira-Paul and Angela Bloomfield, ACT leader Rodney Hide and former swimming champion Danyon Loader.
All celebrities were dancing for a charity; Faumuina supported the Heart Foundation while Downes danced for Child Cancer.
The inaugural Dancing With the Stars title was last year won by former All Black Norm Hewitt and his dance partner, Carol-Ann Hickmore. Hickmore was this year promoted to judge.
Meanwhile, it emerged today that Hewitt had negotiated a "unique" deal whereby TVNZ needed his permission each time it used film of him performing in last year's series.
TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said the broadcaster would usually have rights to such images in perpetuity, The Sunday Star Times reports today.
After he won Dancing with the Stars last year, TVNZ paid for a two-month licence to his images and was then unable to use them without permission.
www.stuff.co.nz
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário