Tauranga mums Carla Beazley, 38 and Hereni Fulton, 44, kicked off the first leg of The Amazing Race Australia v New Zealand on Tuesday.
The duo are one of five New Zealand teams pitted against the Aussies to race through 10 countries to collect the grand prize of $250,000.
With our racing duo back on Bay soil, Rodelle Payne and Annemarie Quill sat down to talk one key aspect of race strategy: fashion warfare.
CARLA
From Tauranga. Went to Tauranga Girls' College. Owner of Tauranga Rhythmz Dance Company. Mum to Tai, 12 and Maia, 8. Describes herself as "Determined, resilient, grateful" Fashion-wise, I think the New Zealand women in the teams are more practical than the Aussies.
I am normally low maintenance, anyway - with my kids and teaching dance, I am not into spending hours getting ready. And I don't like wearing tight stuff.
For the race, I packed light, wearing a combination of just three outfits centred around leggings, trackpants and singlets.
Some of the Australian girls looked beautiful all the time, glammed up to the nines, some fake boobs, all looked immaculate.
The Aussie teams include a hairdresser, and a body-builder girl. During the race some of the Aussies wore white T-shirts. I would never wear white, especially as we were doing our own washing. We would have liked to wear black but our team colours were purple and green.
Hair and makeup were a little bit stressful - Hereni and I both have afro hair and normally would straighten our hair but we didn't have irons so we just wore head-bands.
We wore basic makeup, which we shared, but half the time we would end up with mud all over our face. It didn't intimidate me - it wasn't a fashion show, it was a race to earn money.
It was third form and I found out the jeans that I thought were awesome were uncool; devastating, I was definitely a late bloomer but then made up for it!
What is your favourite look at the moment?
Nipple rings and hot pants, of course.
What drives you?
My Skoda ... just joking! That I want to have an extraordinary life not an ordinary one so I make things happen.
People say I am lucky but I create my own opportunities - things don't happen from sitting on the couch.
From where do you draw your inspiration?
Probably from growing up with not a lot of money and opportunities. I just saw my mum on struggle street the whole time and that makes me so determined to create a different life.
What advice would you give to women about how to look their best?
From Lake Tekapo. Mum to Henry, 6, Emma, 8 and Charlotte, 10: "My three biggest fans". Fitness fan, Zumba addict, boxer.
I didn't change my look for the race. My beauty regime for the race was the same as before the race: I would roll out of bed, put on some strawberry ChapStick.
I didn't worry about looks at all, it was all about the game. I saw lots of fake boobs but it didn't worry me. The last thing that was on my mind was what other people were doing. For me it was a personal challenge; discovering things that I thought I couldn't do that I actually could do.
And towards the end of the race, looks were the last thing on my mind.
But now, after the race, I find I am dressing up more. I am getting used to it; but the whole hair and makeup thing is a new thing for me. Like shoes: I am now thinking about what shoes to wear. I would never think about that before. I am 5ft 11in and never used to wear heels. But now I'm enjoying being tall.
My confidence has grown during the race. It has been a spiritual journey.
I have always been into fitness. I met Carla four years ago, through Zumba, and I grew beautiful relationships with the Zumba ladies. I love my Zumba friends ... being surrounded by happy, dancing people.
During the race, and since, I have lost 9kg. I have cut out carbs and eat a lot of protein and salads. I have nine lemons a day! I still drink wine. I call it the H diet.
I have never been on a diet before but now I am enjoying being strong.
I am working towards a charity boxing night with my trainer Hemi from TKO Boxing Academy in Windermere. That is my main focus at the moment, as well as enjoying the race.
I feel lucky for the experience, and for having an amazing circle of family and friends who have supported me.
What is your earliest fashion memory?
I was a tomboy growing up and a shambles - my Dad bought me a motorbike instead of a pony. School balls weren't a focus and I would borrow from my friends.
Family - I want to succeed for my children. I want to be the best role model I can be for them.
From where do you draw your inspiration?
My Maori heritage. My Dad's second language was English and he was a Ratana minister so he instilled cultural beliefs in us. We grew up in Lake Tekapo in the South Island. We were one of three Maori families in a small community. My parents put a big emphasis on education. Without them, none of this would be happening today.
What advice would you give to women about how to look their best?
Looking your best comes from how you feel inside - and The Amazing Race has really taught me confidence and given me strength.
Putting red food colouring in my hair to get highlights and it coming out while water-skiing, looking like I had a major accident with red food colouring over my face.
The Amazing Race screens on TV2 on Tuesday evenings.
