When Travel Guides New Zealand star Rusha Paenga first set foot on the catwalk, she had no intention of becoming a model, but after a decade of globetrotting, reality TV appearances and a tonne of personal growth, all that has changed.
Now the bubbly 28-year-old from tiny Maraehako Bay, near East Cape, is turning heads across the Tasman, making a name for herself in Australia’s cut-throat modelling scene.
“I moved to Sydney in March to pursue full-time modelling,” she explains. “Some people in the industry say your career is over at 28, but I’m just getting warmed up.”
The Bay of Plenty beauty first dipped her toes into modelling in her late teens. She was studying fashion in Napier at the time.
“The way clothes make you feel and the personalities they bring out has always interested me. During the course, we had to model our first collection. Although I never planned on making a career out of modelling, I really enjoyed the experience.”
Fast-forward several years and Rusha found herself back on the catwalk at age 25 – this time as a plus-size model.
“I didn’t end up becoming a fashion designer,” she says. “Instead I decided to travel. I lived in Australia, Germany and Spain, and while I was there, I built Global Girl Community, a female travel club connecting like-minded women.
“My partner suggested I pursue a career in modelling, but I wasn’t feeling good about myself because I’d put on a lot of weight. In 2018, when I was living in Spain, I was pushing 100kg.”
It wasn’t until Rusha returned Down Under in 2020 and was picked to star in TVNZ’s local version of hit reality show Travel Guides that her perspective shifted.
“I did the show with my nan Mere and cousin Cara, and it was so much fun. Being on Travel Guides gave me more confidence and a taste of being in front of the camera. Once the show ended, I thought, ‘Why not keep going in the entertainment industry?’
“I joined some Facebook modelling groups and saw a job advertising for plus-size models to do a shoot for [underwear label] Unde in Wellington. I applied, got the job and loved it. It gave me the reassurance I needed to put myself out there for more work.”
The proud wahine Māori – who is of Te Whanau a Apanui, Rongowhakaata, Whakatōhea and Ngāti Porou descent – started building her portfolio and was soon picked up by plus-size agency Belle Models. The work poured in, spanning everything from high fashion to lifestyle shoots.
Over time, Rusha discovered a newfound appreciation and love for her body. She began swapping out takeaways for home-cooked meals and incorporating exercise into her day. After a health scare, she became even more health conscious.
“My doctor told me I had high cholesterol and said I had to be careful not to develop diabetes. This made me realise that it wasn’t just about me any more – it was also about my partner and family.
“At school, I was quite athletic, but when school stopped, I stopped playing sport and started gaining weight. My diet became a mix of alcohol, takeaways and not enough exercise, and things got out of hand.”
As the kilos crept up, Rusha’s self-esteem had plummeted. However, after becoming a model, she began to embrace and care for her body. However, there was also a flipside.
“As I became more focused on my health, I naturally started losing weight and then the jobs started reducing. I became this in-between size – too small to be plus size, but not small enough for regular modelling jobs.”
Now sitting at 78kg, hovering between a size 10 and 12, Rusha was faced with a tough decision – gain some weight and reignite her plus-size career or embrace the change and begin carving a place in the “regular” modelling world. She chose the latter.
“You don’t necessarily plan for these things – life’s weird like that! But health is really important to me now. It comes before everything else. Now I work out regularly, go to Pilates and run. I eat my greens and make sure I have a balanced diet. Healthy living has become a lifestyle for me, and I’m so much more energetic and productive.”
She feels a lot more positive too, explaining, “I’ve realised you don’t have to wait until you look a certain way to pursue your goals – it’s more about your performance than your appearance.”
Clearly, her performance is top-notch. Leading skincare and lingerie brands booked Rusha within weeks of her arrival in Sydney.
“I’m so happy to finally be taking my modelling career to the next level. Breaking into the Sydney market has pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I’m excited about rising to the challenge and making it work.”
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