Q&A: Tania Dawson, Miss Universe NZ

Photo c/o Tania's Facebook account

I lost the chance to interview Tania Pauline Dawson, all because I was then living in Hamilton and I couldn't get the right timing to interview her. By the time I was ready to come up to Auckland, she was leaving for the MUNZ "retreat" in the Philippines.  That would have been the closest I'd ever get to be near the reigning Miss Universe New Zealand 2016.  This beautiful and enchanting young woman of Kiwinoy ancestry, grew up on a farm in south Auckland, held a Saturday job auctioning livestock, is a high school Media Studies teacher, considers Baguio City as her sanctuary, and loves tinola. Although I didn't get the chance to interview her on my radio show, I was able to do a Q&A for my blog.

Q: What's on your bucket list?
A: I have a few places that I want to travel such as Greece and Italy.  I have always had a fascination with mythology and history.

Q: Give your teenage self some advice.
A: Don't worry about your skin!  Teenage acne goes away.  I cannot believe how low my self-esteem was when I was a teenager because I wasn't happy in my own skin.

Q: What motivates you?
A: Doing the best that I can.  If I think to myself when I have hit a brick wall or obstacle that I haven't done my best then I strive to try again. My competition against myself is my motivation.

Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: As kind and hardworking.  Kindness is free to give so I try my best to give it to everyone.  I come from a family of hard workers.  I hope that one day when I am gone that is what people will say.

Q: Name 3 people, living or dead, you'd like to have dinner?
A: Beyonce, Cleopatra and Michelle Obama

Q: Are you a cat or dog person?
A: Cat---they're so independent.

Q: Why are you doing, what you're doing?
A: Being a secondary teacher was a choice I made watching my own teachers. I saw them work so hard and juggle so many things.  They inspired me into becoming a teacher so that I could pass the passion on. I am glad to say that I am doing that.  Miss Universe NZ was a great opportunity for me to promote education as being an important tool to young peoples future and at the same time I have been given experiences and learning opportunities of my own.

Q: Where in the Philippines is the place that is your sanctuary?
A: Baguio City.  The pine trees remind me of my childhood because our family farm was sheltered by pine trees.

Q: How did you face failure?
A: Reflect and learn from your mistakes.  In order for a person to have closure they need to understand why things didn't work out.  Without that you cannot move on or try again.

Q: The best thing about your age.
A: I am YOUNG!  I want to see the world and I feel being at this age, you're more free to do so.

Q: Where in New Zealand is your sanctuary?
A: The farm I grew up on in the south of Auckland.

Q: How do you chill out?
A: I watch a lot of films.  I love narratives and stories!

Q: What's your comfort food?
A: Tinola - YUM!

Q: Something not many people know about you.
A: I worked in the agriculture industry for 14 years while I was in school and university.  I had a Saturday job where we auctioned livestock.

Q: Which talent would you like to have?
A: To be a daredevil--I would love to be able to overcome fear and just go for it.

Q: If you could time travel, where and when would it be?
A: Ancient Greece in Athens BC.

Q: What superpower do you wish you had?
A: Telepathy

Q: What job would you do other than your own?
A: Film reviewer or food critic.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: I would like to explore other opportunities in show business and acting while I am still young.  Teaching will always be important to me so I will always come back to it when I am older.