Tania Verstak’s Ring Aroused Curiosity

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30004, 13 December 1962, Page 2

Tania Verstak’s Ring Aroused Curiosity

When Miss Tania Verstak (“Miss International, 1962”) j arrived at her Christchurch news conference yesterday she was : wearing a ring on the third finger of the left hand. One question i fairly sizzled: “Who is the man?” True, it was an engagement ring—her mother’s.

“My mother gave it to me for luck when ; I entered the ‘Miss Australia’ contest, and I • have worn it ever since,” she said, showing ; the gold and platinum ring shaped as a bow • and centred with a diamond.

No romantic ties hamper the beautiful • Tania Verstak. She has signed a contract with ; Qantas Empire Airways to be a travel con- ; suitant, and there is no time to consider an • engagement ring of her own.

“I could not expect a man • to wait 15 months for me,” • she said. “Some day I may ■ find myself a grazier; I’ve ’ seen some very nice ones in . New Zealand.”

The graziers, and millions Jof other men, probably al- • ready know that Tania Ver- ! stak has green, almond- • shaped eyes, her simply--1 styled brown hair has a • gleam of sunlight in it and ‘ that she is 22. They will have noticed she has a warm ! scale and flawless teeth and ‘ are sure to know that her . neeasurements are 34-24-34. Many will have heard her speak in a soft, well-modu-lated voice with a trace of an American accent probablypicked up from her first English teacher.

The surprise awaiting the candidates is. however, her

completely disarming serenity. International honours have not ruffled her poise and graciousness. Tania Verstak always gives the impression that she would much rather listen than talk, and men give top marks for that. In short, she is quite unspoilt by fame, highly intelligent and completely at ease with anyone. The Penalty

It is not all glamour being “Miss International, 1962.” Tania Verstak is exhausted. She is hurt by the criticism in Australia that she sets a bad example to teen-age boys and girls by smoking—one “sniper” even accused her of being toe cause of thousands of young people dying early.

“I felt dreadful about that,” she said. “But then I realised

teen-agers would not take much notice of what I do.”

The lack of privacy is another penalty for wearing the world’s most coveted beauty crown.

She has now become oblivious of the glare of the public spotlight, to people watching her all the time. “I no longer blush or try to look demure when on view. But I just can’t get away and be myself alone," she said. “Still Human” Everything she does brings some kind of comment. “Many people forget you are still human.” But she would go through it all again willingly, though she had no idea of what lay

ahead when she entered toe “Miss Australia” contest. “I thought it would be just 12 months of glamour—a happy-go-lucky life," she said. Worth While The worth-while factors had been the contacts she made with spastic and crippled children and the opportunity to meet so many people, to sit down and talk with them, and hear their ideas, she said. Apart from personality and beauty, Tania Verstak has other international assets. She was born in China of Russian parents and is now a naturalised Australian. She speaks Russian, Chinese and French.