The 13th edition of Miss Earth 2013 pageant has brought 88 delegates from all over the world. Unfortunately, Miss New Zealand Nela Zisser decided to withdraw from the competition due to food poisoning.

The Kiwi beauty queen was diagnosed with food poisoning after several days of being sick and she will be returning home to Auckland to recover.

Zisser posted a note in her Facebook account asking her fans to understand why she needed to withdraw from the competition. She wrote: "Hello everyone. I haven't posted in a few days because I've been very sick, sadly I've gotten bad food poisoning and have been in bed for the last 3 days. I fly home tomorrow night, I'm sorry to everyone I've let down by not finishing the competition but I need to put my health first and come home. This has been a truly life changing experience in both good and bad ways. You really don't understand the world and the hardship in other countries until you experience it and see it with your own eyes. Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me."

The 21-year-old model is a well-known actress back in her home country and is the face and brand ambassador for a clothing company, "The Body Collection." As Miss Earth New Zealand, Zisser has been involved in several programs that advocate in protecting Mother Nature in Aotearoa.

She represented New Zealand when she replaced crowned winner Nicole Fairbrother as the new Miss Earth New Zealand 2013. Due to her busy schedule in the university, Fairbrother has to drop her commitment to represent her country and ask Zisser compete for the title in the upcoming Miss Earth in Muntinlupa, Philippines.

Born in Christchurch, Zisser moved to Auckland after a devastating earthquake that hit 2 years ago. Miss Earth New Zealand was her first pageant. She loves all kinds of animals and currently has one male dog named Kovu after the movie Lion King.