Franki Russell
{{Short description|New Zealand actress and beauty pageant titleholder}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox pageant titleholder
| name = Franki Russell
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Frances Margaret Grant Russell
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1994|7|24}}
| birth_place = Dunedin, New Zealand
| alma_mater =
| occupation ={{Hlist|Actress|model|reality television personality|}}
| title = Miss Cosmo New Zealand 2024
| competitions = {{Ubl|Miss Universe UAE 2021|(Top 30)|Miss Cosmo 2024|(Top 21)|(Best National Costume)}}
| website =
}}
Frances Russell (born 24 July 1994) is a Filipina–New Zealand actress and beauty pageant contestant, who was appointed Miss Cosmo New Zealand 2024 and represented New Zealand at Miss Cosmo 2024.{{Cite web |last=Abad |first=Ysa |date=24 March 2024 |title='A new chapter': Franki Russell to represent New Zealand in Miss Universe 2024 |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/franki-russell-represent-new-zealand-miss-universe-2024/ |access-date=28 May 2024 |website=Rappler |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=NEPALES |first=JANET SUSAN R. |date=27 June 2024 |title=Beauty queen Franki Russell on being half-Pinay half-Kiwi, her first time at the Cannes Film Festival |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/showbizabroad/911456/miss-universe-new-zealand-franki-russell-on-being-half-pinay-half-kiwi-her-first-time-at-the-cannes/story/ |access-date=15 July 2024 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}
Russell was appointed Miss Universe New Zealand 2024 and was to compete at Miss Universe 2024,{{Cite web |last=Abad |first=Ysa |date=24 March 2024 |title='A new chapter': Franki Russell to represent New Zealand in Miss Universe 2024 |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/franki-russell-represent-new-zealand-miss-universe-2024/ |access-date=28 May 2024 |website=Rappler |language=en-US}} but due to controversies of her career in acting and the cancellation of the Miss Universe New Zealand franchise, her title was removed.{{Cite web |title=Franki Russell shares her Miss Universe New Zealand stint halted due to past Viva movies {{!}} Philstar.com |url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/2024/08/30/2381655/franki-russell-shares-her-miss-universe-new-zealand-stint-halted-due-past-viva-movies |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.philstar.com}}
In 2019, Russell moved to the Philippines to pursue a professional modelling career, and appeared as a housemate on Filipino reality television show, Pinoy Big Brother. She began acting in 2022, when she appeared in Ang Probinsyano.{{Cite web |title=From 'PBB' to Miss Universe UAE: Get to know Franki Russell |url=https://philstarlife.com/self/195421-who-is-franki-russell?page=2 |access-date=28 May 2024 |website=Philstar Life}} She was among the top 30 finalist in the Miss Universe United Arab Emirates 2021.
Early life
Russell was born and raised in Dunedin, New Zealand, to a New Zealand father and a Filipina mother.{{Cite web |last=Adina |first=Armin P. |date=22 March 2024 |title=Former 'PBB' housemate Franki Russell to represent New Zealand in Miss Universe |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/547855/former-pbb-housemate-franki-russell-to-represent-new-zealand-in-miss-universe |access-date=28 May 2024 |website=Inquirer |language=en}} At 18, she moved to Sydney, and later to Philippines in 2019, to pursue her career in acting and modeling.
Pageantry
On 14 October 2021, Russell participated in Miss Universe United Arab Emirates,{{Cite web |last=Aseoche |first=Therese |date=18 October 2021 |title=This Former "Pinoy Big Brother" Housemate Joins Miss Universe UAE – When In Manila |url=https://www.wheninmanila.com/franki-russell-joins-miss-universe-uae/ |access-date=28 May 2024 |website=www.wheninmanila.com |language=en-US}} and reached the top 30 before the cancellation of the contest.{{Cite web |last=Bracamonte |first=Earl D. C. |title=Ex-PBB housemate among Miss Universe UAE top 30 |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2021/10/25/2136582/doctor-ex-pbb-housemate-among-miss-universe-uae-top-30 |access-date=28 May 2024 |website=Philstar.com}}{{Cite web |last=Tusing |first=David |date=7 November 2021 |title=Miss Universe UAE coronation night cancelled because of 'time constraints' |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2021/11/07/miss-universe-uae-coronation-night-cancelled-because-of-time-constraints/ |access-date=28 May 2024 |website=The National |language=en}}
On 21 March 2024, Russell was appointed Miss Universe New Zealand.{{Cite web |last=III |first=Sean Castelo |date=27 March 2024 |title=Franki Russell is Miss Universe New Zealand 2024, the First Representative in 5 Years |url=https://mega-onemega.com/franki-russell-is-miss-universe-new-zealand-2024-the-first-representative-in-5-years/ |access-date=28 May 2024 |website=MEGA |language=en-US}} She was expected to represent New Zealand in the Miss Universe 2024 at Mexico, however due to her controversial acting career and the cancellation of the Miss Universe New Zealand franchise with Yugen PR (who owned the franchise) as a result of "the team's non-compliance with a specific order from the Miss Universe Organization", Russell was stripped from her title. According to her interview with Boy Abunda, Russell believed the reason for the cancellation of the franchise was due to the "racy" nature of her films and the Miss Universe New Zealand franchise holders refusal to strip her from her title.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JD9ghmAcyQ |title=The Purple Chair Interview with Franki Russell |date=2024-08-24 |last=The Boy Abunda Talk Channel |access-date=2024-08-30 |via=YouTube}}
On 30 August 2024, the Miss Cosmo Organization released a post revealing that Russell was appointed as the New Zealand representative in Miss Cosmo 2024, in its inaugural pageant.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C_S6IKXSSF-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.instagram.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|nm10752509}}
{{Miss Cosmo 2024 delegates}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Franki}}
Category:New Zealand actresses