Beauty and the Geek star says show is sexist

Zac Klavs from Whangarei was dressed up to be extra geeky on the reality television show in Australia. Photo/Michael Cunningham

For a so-called geek, Zac Klavs is brimming with confidence.

The 18-year-old who attended Pompallier Catholic College is a star of Beauty and the Geek Australia, which is currently airing on New Zealand screens.

The young man is back in Whangarei to visit friends before he gets back into his law and history studies at Victoria University in Wellington.

Zac said a night drinking with mates changed his life when they all agreed to submit an entry for the reality television programme and he was selected to go further in the process. After an interview in Auckland the next thing he knew he was flying to Coral Coast, Fiji, to begin shooting.

"They made me the 'young historian' which I was fine with because history is something I'm interested in. They told me not to cut my hair for three months before filming and I wasn't allowed to wear my normal glasses, instead they gave me these big 70s kind of glasses," Mr Klavs said. He wasn't happy that the producers dressed him to make him extra geeky. "When the so-called 'makeover' part of the programme came they just handed me back the clothes that I had packed and I had to look so happy to be wearing my own clothes again," he said.

Mr Klavs learnt a few things about romance from the beauties in the show, and even maintained a long-distance relationship with one of the contestants from Sydney. He wouldn't name names, ever the gentleman, but said the relationship didn't last.

He wasn't singing praises about what the show stands for. "It is definitely sexist and is confirming stereotypes."

Mr Klavs said the on-screen version of himself was as honest and close to the truth as it could possibly be. After seeing the behind the scenes process of creating a reality television show he said he would never be able to enjoy reality television again.

However, it had its perks. "Being on the show means I'll never have to buy a drink in a bar again."

He hasn't ruled out appearing on our screens in the future. In the meantime he can't wait to get stuck into his second year of university.