South Auckland teen named the new face of Fusions
In May, the Centre for Pacific Languages (CPL) was pleased to be a sponsor for the first time, of the Pacific Fusion Fashion Show, run by Nora Swann who is a leading creative entrepreneur in the Pacific Region’s fashion industry. The Fusion Fashion show is in its sixth year in 2022, having been run previously “online” during the covid lockdown period in NZ.
Tuiloma Gayle Lafaiali’i (CPL CEO) said “it is important that we get behind our Pacific businesses, who have been doing it tough during the lockdowns, and that we thought about how language and culture are intertwined across our creative arts spaces. So this was an event that we wanted to support. And we loved being present and seeing the creative arts flourish. We also loved the opportunity to partner with Nora Swann to support up and coming models in the industry who would represent their language and culture on the national and global stage.”
Rain Te’i (Te Rarawa, Samoan) from Māngere was named the Face of Fusions 2023 at the Pacific Fusion Fashion Show in late May 2022. Rain modelled dresses by two of the nine Pasifika designers and made an impression on the judges with her behaviour both on and off the runway. 60 models were featured, and all were in the running to be the new Face of Fusions.
As the Head Girl of Māngere College, Rain is in her final year of school and is used to being in a leadership position. As a fairly new model, she says she focused on enjoying the experience and learning as much as she could from the mentors and other models involved in the show.
“I was not expecting this at all. This was only my second time modelling on a runway,” she said. “I was involved in PFFS last year, but the show was recorded and then released online. I liked that but it was very different this year to model in front of an energetic and vocal live audience.”
As part of her prize, Rain will feature in promotions for the next Pacific Fusion Fashion Show and will be the face of the Centre for Pacific Language’s Samoan Language Week next year (one of Rain’s heritage languages). Tuiloma added, “we are very proud of Rain, and we look forward to working with her in the future. Part of her prize is also to help her connect with her Pacific language, if that is something that she needs help with.”
Rain was born in Japan, raised in Hawai’i, and lived in California up until 2020. She is Māori and Samoan with links to the villages of Tufuiopa in Apia, and Amanave and Fitiuta in American Samoa. “I studied Samoan language at school last year and was involved in Māngere College’s Samoan group. I was blessed to win the Taupou (best solo dancer) category at Polyfest earlier this year. For Samoan Language Week I am busy with siva (dance) and fire knife dancing performances. I have never been to Sāmoa and now that borders will open I look forward to learning Samoan language at the Centre for Pacific Languages and going to Sāmoa soon.”
Sherry Lunjevich has been the PFFS modelling coordinator since their first show in 2016. Sherry said the Face of Fusions needs to have the X-factor on the runway but also must show special qualities at rehearsals and in the lead up to the show. “Rain always has a good attitude, she is eager to learn, takes direction well and really brings it when it’s show time. We are excited for all she is achieving and already have some big ideas for upcoming promotions and campaigns we will do with her. We think she has a very bright future.”
So far this year, Rain has been selected as head prefect at her school, she won Best Taupou on the Samoan stage at Polyfest and now is the Face of Fusions. “I am having a very good year,” she humbly remarked.
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