Marina’s

Profile

Marina’s mission

By Atama Raganivatu

Samoan teenager Marina McCartney

is a lady on a mission. “I want to prove to other Pacific Island women that you do not need to be rich and blonde to win beauty competitions,” she stated immediately after being crowned Miss New Zealand late in October.

Marina becomes animated whenever discussing the barriers which very nearly deterred her from entering her first major event. “My earliest contest was the low key Miss Pacific Islands competition in south Auckland,” she recalls. “One of the judges at that asked me to participate in the Miss Auckland pageant, which I did.

But, I discovered that all the other girls there were blondes, came from wealthy families, wore extravagant jewellery and carried cellullar phones. After the first rehearsal, I went home crying to my step mum and said, T’m not rich enough for this.’ She said to me ‘just be yourself’ and I have.” By just being herself, Marina won both the Miss Auckland and Miss New Zealand contests and her sights are set on the biggest prize in the beauty competition field - Miss Universe - at Las Vegas next April. When she flies to the United States, it will be the first time the 19-year-old from a family of 13 living in Mangere, a humble south Auckland suburb, has been on a plane and the first time she has trav elled beyond New Zealand’s North Island.

Marina does not regard her modest background as a disadvantage; to the con trary, she welcomes the opportunities it provides for her to become a role model for young Pacific Island women. She says: “I am delighted to be able to prove that it does not matter what your circumstances are or where you come from. If you want something badly enough, you can get it.

It’s all a matter of having a good attitude.

I was the only Pacific Islander in the Miss New Zealand contest and being a standard bearer makes me feel really good. I hope I

can show other Pacific Island girls they can succeed too. More Pacific Island girls are needed at the Miss New Zealand con test.”

Marina, who is studying for a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Auckland University, believes that beauty contests provide her with experiences that will be vital in the future. “I would not normally have met the other girls competing at Miss New Zealand and Miss Auckland. I have leamt how to communicate with them and what makes them tick. This is sure to be invaluable when I get into the buisness world, as I shall be dealing with people in all walks of life.” In the meantime, though, Marina is content to remain in Mangere with her father, Stuart, her step mother, Nancy, and her 10 siblings. She does not have a bedroom of her own, but shares a shed in the family garden with a sister. “Our house is always alive with laughter,” she enthuses and my family ensure I keep my feet on the ground. Dad often says, “Marina, you may be Miss New Zealand, but you are still to help in washing the dishes, hanging out the wash ing and mixing the dog’s food.” Stuart and Nancy hope to save sufficient money to travel to Las Vegas in April.

Beauty competitions have lost favour throughout the Western world over the past two decades, being deemed “politi cally incorrect” by those who shape popu

liar social tastes. In New Zealand, where ■ radical feminists enjoy more influence p than possibly any other country, they have ■ been subjected to a great deal of ridicule land contempt. But Marina considers the ■ feminists’ opposition to be misguided.

P “I believe that women of the 90s make their own decisions,” she reflects. “I am convinced that there is

7nothing wrong in beauty pageants. They

unique opportunities. I doubt very much if I could have gained an expenses paid trip to Las Vegas at my age through I any other means than the Miss New Zealand contest. Girls today also have to Idisplay attributes other than good looks to ■win beauty competitions. If feminists ■can’t respect this, they aren’t really pro women. “Really, I think that the term beauty contest is a misnomer. ‘All-round package contest’ would be a more accurate description. The contestants are judged

upon intelligence, personality and

demeanour, as well as their appearance. It amazes me that those who complain about beauty contests don’t concern themselves with body-building competitions, because they focus totally upon physical impres sions.” Marina is certainly articulate (she was nicknamed “Motormouth” by her school friends) and her eloquence was evi dent to the whole of New Zealand when she appeared on the nation’s most popular television current affairs programme Holmes. In this, Marina appealed for sup port in cash and kind to help her fulfil the role of Miss New Zealand with dignity and represent the Kiwis with pride in Las Vegas. She pointed out that she was expected to finance her own outfit to Miss Universe from her own limited income and had to travel to official functions in New Zealand by public transport.

Marina’s sparkling smile, down-to earth attitude, delightfully unspoilt per sonality and humility gained her an army of admirers and sponsors. The latter inun dated the obviously overwhelmed teenag er with monetary gifts, jewellery, shoes, clothes, lingerie and the use of a brand new car for a year. Such is the impression Marina has made since being crowned Miss New Zealand that one feels, even if she does not become Miss Universe, the world will soon become her oyster. ■

Marina McCartney with the Daewoo Cielo she will use during her reign Picture: Courtesy of Daewoo