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13/03/2019
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Maddison Northcott 05:15, Mar 13 2019
Beauty queen Natalya Aroha Jackson has a no-nonsense attitude and martial arts skills.
With her no-nonsense attitude and a black belt in martial arts, Natalya Aroha Jackson isn't a stereotypical pageant aspirant.
The Christchurch teenager, who is trained in Kenpō karate, surprised even herself by becoming Miss Canterbury after winning by default as the sole entrant.
After being approached by a family friend, she threw her name in the hat and came away with the title without so much as a swipe of lipstick or catwalk critique.
But after a taste of success, Jackson, 18, wanted to try the big time, cementing her place in the national competition and planning to take the stage alongside 12 others in Auckland for the Miss World New Zealand competition.
NATALYA AROHA JACKSON/SUPPLIED
Natalya Aroha Jackson is the only South Island entrant in Miss World New Zealand competition in May.
She expects this round to be much more heated, with contestants required to organise six dresses, including a gown, cocktail wear and cultural outfit, and a swimwear look for the bikini show.
Jackson hoped a weaver would supply her with a cloak for the "national costume" as she is the only Maori entrant, and the only contestant from the South Island.
NATALYA AROHA JACKSON/SUPPLIED
Jackson is searching for Christchurch designers to wear their clothes on stage.
To raise money for the event's charity, Brave, founded by 2018 winner Jess Tyson to raise awareness about sexual violence, Jackson plans to hold two open classes teaching hip-hop and, if time allows, self-defence with guest speakers to inspire attendees. She also needs a sponsor to help with the $1500 entry fee for the show on May 26.
Entrants will go head-to-head in areas from the sports challenge and talent round to the one-on-one stage interview. If Jackson could nail all those categories, she would be a "strong contender", Miss World New Zealand project director Rose Foulger said.
Despite ongoing criticism of beauty pageants objectifying women and judging them on solely on how they looked, Jackson said the shows empowered contestants and encouraged them to "put themselves out there".
SUPPLIED
Jess Tyson, Miss World New Zealand 2018, impressed on stage with a poi performance.
As a hip-hop dance teacher, former kapa haka performer and martial artist, she wanted to "share positivity" and her passion for dance to "hopefully inspire my students that any of us can do this".
"A lot of modelling exploits women but this really just lets you do whatever you feel comfortable doing and doesn't force anything. You can choose to wear something a bit different for the swimsuit section if you want."
Foulger said there were "so many categories to consider" when picking a winner, but the main message was matching the ethos of the Beauty with a Purpose campaign.
NATALYA AROHA JACKSON/SUPPLIED
Jackson hopes to raise funds for the event's charity, Brave, by holding hip-hop dancing classes.
Jackson said contestants were required to attend workshops in Auckland most weekends teaching everything from catwalk classes to makeup skills and etiquette.
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