Comedy queen Sieni Tiana Leo’o Olo – or Bubbah as she’s better known – always dreamt of making it big, but nothing could have prepared her for the rise to fame as Tina from Turners in the popular car ads. From there, she landed spots on Celebrity Treasure Island and Taskmaster NZ, cementing herself as one of our most in-demand Kiwi comics.
But now, at the height of her success, Bubbah, who earned her nickname as a tot, is packing up and leaving behind her life in Aotearoa to start afresh in Samoa. And as she chats to Woman’s Day, the 28-year-old tells us it’s a move inspired in part by her most recent TV project, Don’t, which gave her the courage and clarity to do something radically different.
“Everyone always talks about what they’re going to do in their retirement, but I just thought, ‘Why wait till I’m old?’” says Bubbah, who was born in New Zealand to Samoan parents. “My family has a plantation there and it really is paradise. Every time I get off the plane, I feel really grounded. It’s like when you take off your bra when you get home – that’s how I feel when I land in Samoa.”
But before she heads off, Bubbah’s making time to talk to us about Don’t. In the new three-part documentary on TVNZ+, she explores the big issues facing young people today. More specifically, she investigates getting married, having children and buying a house.
Joined by Kiwi comedians Courtney Dawson, Bailey Poching and Rhiannon McCall on her quest to uncover the truth about these grown-up pursuits, Bubbah consults experts, takes it to the streets and tries “being an adult” for herself. With her 30th birthday around the corner, the timing was perfect, she says. “I still feel like a kid, but I guess it’s time to realise I’m not!”
Bubbah hadn’t given much thought to settling down before agreeing to take part in Don’t. Regardless, she says she came away from the experience with a clearer sense of who she is and what she wants from life. As well as being a proud feminist, she jokes that she’s now a proud “single-ist” too!
“One of the most interesting things I found was that the statistics show that women live longer and happier when they’re single,” she says, admitting her love life is “non-existent”. “And medical research shows that not looking after a man or children makes women healthier. So I think that’s cool knowing that you can live a long and happy life as a single woman.”
While she might never have had a boyfriend, Bubbah – who shares her South Auckland home with her beloved Rottweiler Friday – is perfectly happy on her own. Dating apps aren’t her scene and the idea of trying to flirt with someone fills her with dread.
“I think I give off big-sister vibes,” she says. Asked to describe her dream man, she replies, “Well, it’d be good if they were kind. And a super-hot dude, of course!”
As an aunty to six nieces and nephews, Bubbah adores children. However when it comes to motherhood, she’s yet to decide whether it’s something she wants.
She was happy to shine a light on the issue for Don’t, bravely undergoing medical tests to determine how much time she has when it comes to her fertility.
Finding out the results with the cameras rolling was a confronting moment.
“It was nerve-wracking, but I think fertility is such a big thing for so many women. It’s something most of us experience and we just don’t talk about it enough.”
Regardless of what happens in the future, Bubbah says any parenting urges are well and truly met thanks to her beloved pooch. She admits she spends most of her earnings buying him clothes, she lets him sleep in her bed every night and she’s even noticed that he’s morphing into a canine version of herself.
“He shows off!” she laughs. “If he’s not getting enough attention or he wants someone to play with him, he’ll just start performing. It’s like he’s doing an interpretive dance.”
And, of course, she’ll be taking him with her to Samoa when she heads off next month. The pair will live in their own little cabin on the plantation.
“He’s going to have an existential epiphany,” says Bubbah. “I can’t wait for him to have that. His world here is on the streets, but over there, it’s just freedom, coconut trees and a bunch of land.
“He’ll love it because everyone over there is all high energy as well. He’ll slide in very well.”
Workwise, Bubbah says there will be plenty to keep her busy around the village. She’s keen to work with local children, perhaps in a teaching role, and will be happy to pick up a hammer for some DIY if required. With no wifi, she’s looking forward to switching off and slowing down.
“I’m from a side of Samoa where kids don’t get to learn English easily,” she explains. “English speaking is quite a big thing when it comes to getting opportunities, especially with study and moving past college. So there’s that, but there’s also work to be done.
“I might be a handyman. I reckon I could figure it out – there are no rules over there, so it’ll be all good!”
But Bubbah isn’t walking away from her comedy career for good. With Aotearoa just a three-hour flight away, she’ll be coming back whenever the work calls. She hopes to perform in Samoa too. For the girl who started out doing stand-up shows in her backyard, she’s more than happy to improvise on venues.
“I don’t need a comedy club – I can make people laugh anywhere!” she insists. “And Samoans are the funniest. I’ve always found I laugh the hardest in Samoa.”
Don’t premieres Thursday on TVNZ+.
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