One of Australia’s favourite pastimes is claiming New Zealand’s greatest exports as our own. Take for example the unresolved debate over whether the flat white had its origins here or across the ditch, or the fact that according to certain sources Russell Crowe, Crowded House and (more audaciously) Lorde, hail from our sunny shores.
Well, you’re about to meet nine more beautiful souls who exemplify why we’ve turned claiming kiwis as our own into a national sport. Can you really blame us when our tiny neighbouring island pumps out so many chill, creative and talented humans?
We dressed the dream team—Lucy, Ruby, Mihad, Caprice, Mia, Mahalia, Zoe, Ch’lita and Ayan—up in some jazzy NZ brands recently, including some of our favourite pieces we spied during NZFW, then our pal Dan Roberts had them strike a pose. As always, we took the opportunity to pick their (wonderful) brains, and you can read all about it below…
Lucy
When are you most content?
I’m most content when I’m surrounded by friends and family because I can always be myself around them.
Favourite place in New Zealand to hang out?
I really love Anchorage, a very beautiful bay along the Abel Tasman.
Favourite summer fruit?
Rockmelon.
Who’d play you in a move about your life?
Millie Bobby Brown.
Which emoji do you use the most?
The winky face emoji that’s blowing a kiss 😘.
Favourite home cooked meal?
Chicken and basil ravioli with garlic bread!
Lucy wears Georgia Alice dress, Frisson beret, Meadowlark ring, Swedish Stockings socks, Dr. Martens shoes
If you could travel anywhere in the world, past or future, where would you go?
Sounds weird, but 1955 July 17th Anaheim California. Because it was the opening day of Disneyland and I’m a huge Disney fan.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A high fashion model.
Words to live by: Do the things in life that are gonna make you happy. (as long as those things don’t hurt others and are legal).
Ruby
When are you most content?
I’m most content when I’m together with my whole family just hanging out. It doesn’t happen as often now, so it’s definitely something that makes me feel most content.
Favourite place in New Zealand to hang out?
Definitely Mangawhai. It’s such a peaceful, calm place and it has the best sandwiches.
Favourite summer fruit?
Mangoes.
Who'd play you in a movie about your life?
Most probably Shalene Woodley as she seems chill and isn’t too serious, which I think is very similar to me.
Which emoji do you use the most?
🖤
Favourite home-cooked meal?
Definitely my mum’s homemade chicken soup.
If you could time travel anywhere in the world, past or future, where would you go?
Most probably Russia, as I would love to see where my great grandparents are from.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a special needs teacher at a primary school.
Words to live by: Everything happens for a reason.
Ruby wears Kate Sylvester coat and dress
Mihad
When are you most content?
When I'm spending time with my sisters who are my best friends. Whether we're out in the city, catching up over dinner or simply sitting in complete silence in our room on our laptops/phones, it honestly makes no difference because any time spent with them is when I am the absolute happiest.
Favourite place in New Zealand to hang out?
Rainbows End! I am a sucker for amusement parks and I absolutely love Rainbows End.
Favorite summer fruit?
Mangoes. It's just my overall favourite fruit.
Who'd play you in a movie about your life?
Viola Davis. Looking past the obvious age and skin complexion differences between us. As a dark-skin black woman in Hollywood who does not shy away from speaking her mind, it is more the reason to look up to her. She is inspirational, strong and so articulate. It is for those reasons and many more that I'd personally choose Viola Davis.
Mihad wears Wynn Hamlyn blazer and pants
Which emoji do you use the most?
😂😂, because when am I not laughing?
Favorite home-cooked meal?
Anything my mum makes, but especially her famous Isku-Dhek-Karis (Somali style rice) and fried chicken.
If you could time travel anywhere in the world, past or future, where would you go?
I would honestly love and give anything to time travel back to my motherland Somaliland before the civil war.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
My parents. They are my idols, heroes and superstars. They have taught me so much about life and they continue to teach me. They are so giving, patient, selfless and loving.
Words to live by: Do and live for yourself.
Caprice
When are you most content?
Spending quality time with my family, especially op shopping with my grandma. I like to call her my lucky charm when finding good thrifted finds.
Favourite place in NZ to hang out?
Definitely Cooks Beach in the Coromandel, it’s where I have spent most holidays since I can remember. I have so many special memories there.
Favourite summer fruit?
Strawberries and pineapple, especially in real fruit ice cream.
Who’d play you in a movie about your life?
Gosh, that is so hard to decide. Probably someone who is funny, not too serious and always up for a good time.
Which emoji do you use the most?
Favourite home-cooked meal?
I’m a sucker for anything Italian. My mum makes a great lasagna.
If you should time travel anywhere in the world, past or future, where would you go?
Anywhere tropical by the beach like Hawaii or Rarotonga in the past—the world seemed a lot more simpler back then.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I’d like to incorporate my love of fashion and design into a creative director role. As well as expressing the benefits of avoiding fast fashion and more ethical alternatives to getting your fashion fix.
Words to live by: Everything happens for a reason.
Caprice wears Kate Sylvester beret, Kate Sylvester Archive bodysuit, Penny Sage jeans, her own shoes
Mia
When are you most content?
Lying on a beach in the sun up North.
Favourite place in NZ to hang out?
Bay of Islands.
Favourite summer fruit?
Mangoes.
Who’d play you in a movie about your life?
Has to be the one and only Chris Lilley.
Which emoji do you use the most?
😻
Favourite home-cooked meal?
Mum’s tasty lasagne.
Mia wears Wynn Hamlyn jumper, Harris Tapper pants
If you should time travel anywhere in the world, past or future, where would you go?
I would probably go to Italy in the 90s. That just sounds like such a cool time and place to be in.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Interior designer or fashion designer (but it would be interesting to see where modeling can take me).
Words to live by:
“I feel like anything I’m doing in life, I try to stay myself and be as honest and true as I can be, and be a nice person. I’ve always been taught to be kind to people and have an open mind about life.”
Mahalia
When are you most content?
When I’m walking and listening to music, when the streets aren’t very busy and it’s hitting evening time. There’s a beautiful evening light around 6pm during summer in Auckland. As well as just laughing with family and friends. Or, trying to mix music with my controller at home—ah, aspiring DJ mode.
Favourite place in NZ to hang out?
I don’t have an exact location of a favourite place in New Zealand to hangout, but I do enjoy chilling at the beach or in parks around Central Auckland. The best beaches for me are Bethells and Piha! I would definitely recommend for anyone visiting New Zealand in the summer to go out to either of those and watch a sunset :).
Favourite summer fruit?
Cucumber! A bit random maybe, but it’s my favourite food in general and I recently discovered it’s a fruit not a vegetable because of its seeds! It’s super hydrating and a good way to absorb water, plus it’s yum and I love the colour.
Mahalia wears Kate Sylvester beret, Kate Sylvester Archive bodysuit, her own jeans
Who’d play you in a movie about your life?
If I could have anyone play me in a movie about my life, I’d love to have Sade or Erykah Badu do it. I’m in love with them—both musically as well as finding them beautiful on the inside and out. They are both big icons for me. Also, they’re both very steezy ladies.
Which emoji do you use the most?
My most used emoji is my fairy lady 
Favourite home-cooked meal?
I can’t think of a specific dish, but my favourite home cooked meals are anything my mum and dad make at home. They’re both really good cooks and make their food with love ❤️.
If you should time travel anywhere in the world, past or future, where would you go?
If I could time travel, I’d go to the mid-90s and catch a live Portishead concert. Or, to the 80s to meet my parents when they were the same age as me, so I could take them out for a drink.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
When I grow up I want to be somewhere travelling overseas working in the music industry, possibly djing, or the fashion industry doing fashion photography.
Words to live by:
Tell your friends and family you love them. Plus, drink more water.
Zoe
When are you most content?
Snuggled in bed with a good book.
Favourite place in New Zealand to hang out?
Outside, at the park or the beach.
Favourite summer fruit?
Nectarines.
Who'd play you in a movie about your life?
Emily Fraser 🖤.
Which emoji do you use the most?
Favourite home-cooked meal?
Eggs and toast.
Zoe wears Paris Georgia dress
If you could time travel anywhere in the world, past or future, where would you go?
I would travel to the future and get evidence of the catastrophic effects of climate change. Surely that would change the tune of some of these idiots in power...
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I’m currently in my fifth year of my conjoint degree doing law, philosophy and politics. I am hoping to get a job either working with vulnerable children, people with intellectual disabilities or in the alcohol and other drug treatment court.
Words to live by: Breathe.
Ch'lita
When are you most content?
Grazing in the sun.
Favourite place in New Zealand to hang out?
Bar Celeste.
Favourite summer fruit?
Are açai bowls a fruit?
Ch'lita wears Georgia Alice coat, Harman Grubisa pants
Who'd play you in a movie about your life?
Monica Belluci, because she has big tits like me.
Which emoji do you use the most?
Favourite home-cooked meal?
To be honest I haven’t had a home cooked meal since I moved out of home so I consider the green curry I have from the Thai place down the road my favourite home cooked meal. I’ll ask them for the recipe.
If you could time travel anywhere in the world, past or future, where would you go?
I would really have liked to see the Paris cafe society in the 1920s, but they probably hated women and had bad plumbing.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I have a vision of myself floating around in a silk robe, Manolo’s on, vape in hand in an ultra modern house looking over any kingdom.
Words to live by:
I used to think my life was a tragedy but now I realise it’s a comedy.
Ayan
When are you most content?
With my friends/in my room.
Favourite place in New Zealand to hang out?
My backyard.
Favourite summer fruit?
Mangoes.
Who'd play you in a movie about your life?
Definitely has to be my little sister.
Which emoji do you use the most?
Favourite home-cooked meal?
Lentil soup! With mushrooms, capsicum, broccoli, silverbeet, green beans and a carrot.
If you could time travel anywhere in the world, past or future, where would you go?
Oh, I’m going back in time to the 2000s so I can try marry D’Angelo—he’s so fine and younger him was so beautiful.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
SUPERMODEL!
Words to live by: Fruit is good for you. Tomorrow will be better x.
Ayan wears Harris Tapper blazer, her own top and pants
Feature: Madeleine Woon Photos: Dan Roberts Fashion: Chloe Hill
Ayan is represented by N Management
Lucy, Mihad & Mahalia are represented by 62 Management
Ruby, Caprice & Zoe are represented by Unique
Ch’lita and Mia are represented by Clyne
Shot on locaton in and around Grand Millennium Auckland, New Zealand
