TAKE YOUR PICK: An extraordinary collection of decorative bras. PICTURE/FRANCIS MALLEY
TAKE YOUR PICK: An extraordinary collection of decorative bras. PICTURE/FRANCIS MALLEY
Saturday's inaugural Mardi Bra best decorated bra competition in Kaitaia went off without a hitch according to the organisers.
The MCs promoted the importance of breast screening while the competition was judged and the crowd tucked into free food (from fruit platters to a sausage sizzle), various stalls plugged otherhealth messages and young faces were painted.
A photo booth and local musicians also contributed, alongside salsa, zumba and belly-dancing exhibitions
The event was the brainchild of Faye Price, breast screening kaimahi for Te Hiku Hauora, who said she had found the perfect means of promoting Breast Cancer Month .
"When I think of the mardi gras, it's always a celebration, it's party time. So we needed something that is a celebration for women who have had their mammograms done," she said.
'It should have a competition, have dancing ... (and it) snowballed from there."
Three judges from the Hokianga, Auckland and Tauranga focused their attention on the 27 entries, the big prize going to Andrianna Saunders (Omapere) with Nesting Tits, followed by Belle Dargaville (Kohukohu) with Red Feather and Koru, and Patricia Dargaville (Kohukohu) with Small Sunflower.
Others singled out for praise included Melva Davis for her Orange Feathers (brightest bra), Rubyanne Reihana for Lilly Pads (most outrageous), Zara Swainson for Coloured Flowers (best fancy bra), Jolene Rupapera for Lady Bugs (supreme bra), and Patricia Dargaville for Studs and Feathers (most innovative).
NOT A HITCH: Performers and organisers at the inaugural Mardi Bra festival in Kaitaia on Saturday. PICTURE/FRANCIS MALLEY
Mrs Price was over the moon with the turnout on the day, estimating that the event attracted 300 people (although many stallholders at the nearby farmers' market were complaining that it was a conspicuously quiet day thanks to being the last weekend of the school holidays and with the All Blacks playing Tonga in the Rugby World Cup).
"I thought it was fantastic," Faye Price said.
"Everyone was really happy. We got some great comments and feedback, especially from women, about the whole thing. I'm very, very happy with how the day went. Awesome."
It had also provided an opportunity for women who had not yet had a mammogram to enrol.
"And we did pretty well," she added.
It was now planned to make the Mardi Bra an annual event, not only in Kaitaia but further afield. Hokianga Health had already expressed interest in hosting the next event.
