Beauty queen Tiana 'I CAN FINALLY TALK ABOUT IT'

The Rotorua woman is breaking stereotypes and putting a painful past behind her

- Ruth Jillings 

Tiana Hodge has experienced and overcome a lot in her 77 years – and next on her bucket list is taking the stage as the oldest contestant to ever take part in the Miss Rotorua Beauty Pageant.

Talking to the Weekly ahead of the September 16 event, Tiana confides the glamorous world of pageantry is out of her comfort zone, but she’s embracing the challenge with a down-to-earth Kiwi attitude and a desire to inspire others.    

“Normally, I wear sneakers, a track suit, a hoodie and a puff er jacket,” says Tiana, who is one of 21 contestants – the youngest being 15 – vying for the crown this year. “I don’t wear make-up, I’m not fashionable, but I am doing it to step out and change my look.”  

Tiana shares she was inspired to take part by former councillor and fellow septuagenarian Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, who at 73 was last year awarded the Miss Te Arawa sash.  

For Tiana, Merepeka’s involvement was an aspirational and fi erce statement that beauty has no age limit, and you are never too old to try something new.  She’s hoping her presence will have a similar impact on other wāhine.

“I’d like to inspire other women who are restricting themselves to go for it and make changes in their lives if they feel stuck,” says Tiana, who spent most of her life battling with the impacts of an alopecia diagnosis in her early twenties.