No stranger to beauty pageantsThursday June 01, 2017 Written by Melody Cargill Published in Local
Name: Tatyana Vakatini ,Birthdate: December 18, 1998
Height: 176.5cm
Island/Village: Rarotonga, Titikaveka
School/Work: St Cuthbert’s College, Raina Trading
Family: Vakatini and Ngati Raina (one of 4 siblings)
Role model: Mum and Dad
Occupation: Sales representative and web designer
Hobbies: Making movies and short videos, spending time with my family and friends, and baking
Favourite food: Chicken curry (hot!)
Favourite flower: Tiare Tipani
Favourite colour: Pink
I would describe my style as: Casual and laid-back
A lot of people won’t know this about me: I love tomato sauce and have it with almost every meal, and I am ambidextrous
Future goal/s: To have my own business - resort
About TatyanaTatyana Vakatini is 19 years old and in her first year out of school. She’s creative, ambitious and no stranger to beauty pageants. Tatyana’s grandmother, June Baudinet – was just 16 when she won the inaugural Miss Rarotonga pageant in 1960.
Entering this year’s Miss Cook Islands was not a decision Tatyana took lightly. What swayed her in the end was the opportunity to be challenged, the experience, and the belief that her confidence will be boosted.
Tatyana is one of four siblings and the only girl. She has a love of baking, something she picked up from her Nana at a very early age. She rates her chocolate, vanilla and banana cakes but says her Mum, Tanya Savage, makes the best chicken curry ever – it’s hot!
Tatyana completed her education last year at St Cuthbert’s College in Auckland and is currently working as a sales representative and web designer for family company Raina Trading. She calls herself the “peacemaker” of the three generations of women who work there.
Tatyana’s currently making her first advertisement for the shop featuring specialised products that they stock. But her love of film goes beyond ads. In her spare time Tatyana loves making her own home movies or short videos. So far, most have focused on family and holiday recaps.
Tatyana also loves animals and tigers and dogs are at the top of that list. She’s yet to own a tiger but has had dogs since she was two years old. Her first dog, Tipani died last year at almost 16 years old. And her love of dogs extends to not just her own. High on the list of Tatyana’s goals is to work towards improving the facilities at the SPCA and to develop greater protection mechanisms in the Cook Islands for animals. High among her goals is also owning her own resort.
Spending time talking to friends, playing games (cricket, ping pong, volleyball) are Tatyana’s favourite weekend activities.
I asked Tatyana the name of her favourite movie – it’s Southpaw, a boxing drama thriller.
- Jaewynn McKay