Franki Russell biography: 15 things about Miss Cosmo New Zealand 2024

Who is Franki Russell?

Frances Margaret Grant Russell is a Filipino-Kiwi actor, model and beauty queen born in New Zealand to a Kiwi-European father and a Filipino mother. Professionally known as Franki Russell, she is a “Pinoy Big Brother” alumna and she represented New Zealand in Miss Cosmo.

Raised in Dunedin, New Zealand, Russell moved to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia after high school. She has an older brother.

When Russell screened for Miss Universe New Zealand 2014, she did not make it. On September 14, 2014, the title was won by Rachel Millns, who was unplaced at Miss Universe 2014 on January 25, 2015.

Russell is 5’5″ tall. Here are 15 more things about her:

1. In 2006, her father passed away.
2. In 2012, she graduated from high school in Dunedin and moved to Sydney with her older brother.
3. She was one of the seven Australian beauties who competed in “Beauty and the Geek Australia” Season 6, which premiered on October 9, 2014. She was eliminated in the second episode, which aired on October 16, 2014.
4. She was one of the 58 housemates of “Pinoy Big Brother” Season 8, which aired on ABS-CBN from November 10, 2018 to August 4, 2019. She was evicted on the 42nd day.
5. She played a police master sergeant in the ABS-CBN series “Ang Probinsiyano” in the episodes aired on June 18, 2019, on June 29, 2020 and on September 1, 2020.
6. She was one of the 30 Miss Universe UAE 2021 finalists. The coronation ceremony was supposed to be held at La Perle in Al Habtoor City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on November 7, 2021 but it was cancelled.
7. She and Diego Loyzaga starred in the film “Pabuya”, which was released on October 6, 2022. She, Jay Manalo and Kiko Estrada starred in “Laruan”, which was released on December 16, 2022.
8. She and Yen Durano starred in “Summer”, which was released on January 20, 2023. Loyzaga played Bongbong Marcos and she played Marcos’s girlfriend Claudia Bermudez in “Martyr or Murderer”, which was released on February 27, 2023.
9. On March 21, 2024, she was appointed Miss Universe New Zealand 2024 at the Top of the Alpha in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
10. In May 2024, she attended the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.
11. On July 24, 2024, she turned 30.
12. On July 30, 2024, her participation at Miss Universe 2024 as New Zealand’s representative was cancelled.
13. On August 30, 2024, she was appointed Miss Cosmo New Zealand 2024.
14. On October 5, 2024, she represented New Zealand at Miss Cosmo 2024 and competed against 55 other candidates at the Saigon Riverside Park in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She finished in the Top 21 and won the Best in National Costume award.
15. On November 13, 2024, she served as a Mister Grand Philippines 2024 judge at the Metrotent Convention Center in Pasig City, Metro Manila.