Sat 27 Oct 2007 In: Hall of Fame View at Wayback View at NDHA
Toni Shuker With a little help from a mullet hairstyle and a bikini, this 21-year-old single gal took away the Miss Downunder title at Imerst nightclub on Labour Weekend Saturday. We found out more about Wellington's top out-and-about lesbian. GayNZ.com: What did you have to do on stage to win? Where there lots of different rounds? Toni: You had to strut you stuff in the three different categories. Open wear, which of course I busted out the bikini with boards shorts, chucks and aviators!! Evening wear, which Jay and I decided to go literal with it and wear pajamas. And the party, where I let my true angel self out! Why do you think you won? What gave you the edge on the others? Definitely the dirty mullet, hmm or the fact I wore the bikini… What's your background, and where did you grew up? I'm a South Island girl! Most of my growing up was done in the gorgeous Golden Bay! Came to the North Island when I was 15 where I did my last years in school Taupo-nui-a-tia College, then headed to Wellington to start studying! When did you come out as lesbian, and what was it like for you at the time? I started coming out to people when I moved to Wellington in 2004, I found it really easy because I didn't know anyone. I told my Mum, stepdad and brothers December 2006, and it went down great, think Mum is a little proud of it to be honest. Dad isn't really a huge part of my life; I just don't feel the need to tell him. He can get the hint with a civil union invite or something along those lines. Rocking the bikini What's your relationship status? SINGLE!!! What do you think are the most pressing issues currently facing the NZ's LGBT community? Hmm I think it's a mix of conservative backlash, mainstream becoming more and more socially conservative, as well as an increasing apathy towards the goals of minority interests. Also I would like to see more bars in town where people in the LGBT community can feel welcome and without judgment. Which LGBT people do you most look up to? To be honest I don't know who I look up to. In such a celebrity obsessed culture I have to say Michelle Rodriguez! And I love and adore my friends, they are amazing and I always know they are there when I need, it's the best quality to have and I totally look up to that. What's your worst habit? Pass? You would have to ask an ex girlfriend that one… Maybe my choice of diet, which I don't actually have a problem with just everyone else seems to. I don't cook, therefore I live on takeaways. Basically I live off kebabs, burger king, and hells pizza… mmm food. If it tastes good, it's good for you Are there any books are you currently reading or recommending? Haha the books I am reading at the moment I wouldn't recommend to anyone, the title is something like economics of the public sector… Toni's 'Evening wear' Your favourite music at the moment? Favourites at the mo: Crossfade, AFI, Finch, Metric, Emily Haines, Jack Off Jill, Kittie, Paramore, The Hedrons, Joan Jett, Eve6, Atreyu, Cueshé, Godsmack, Hurt, POD, OLP, Blindspott… Your favourite movies? I love Saw 1, 2 and 3, Borat, Napoleon Dynamite, Moulin Rouge, Fight Club, Taking Lives, Your favourite TV programmes? Flight of the Conchords!! Those guys are hilarious!! And I have the Shortland buzz going as well.. such awful acting, but so addictive.. then of course is desperate housewives (Eva Longoria) and Greys Anatomy (for the chick that plays Kelly) Your favourite websites? Hmmm Bebo is my internet addiction at the moment, I don't really surf sites much. Who in the world would you most like to have a coffee and a chat with and why? Michelle Rodriguez. Oh my god she's so hot! And she's going to jail, which just makes her hotter! It's the bad-ass image! If you could have one wish granted what would it be? World peace? GayNZ.com - 27th October 2007