Carena West, Simply the Best!

Carena West is a local darling, rising to popularity through her invigorating approach to competitive bikini modeling. Transcending the cliché ‘not just a pretty face’, Carena has a warmth of personality that is rare in what can be a superficial industry. A savvy businesswomen in the making, her studies almost completed at AUT, Carena talks to our correspondent about life in the Auckland spotlight, TV cameos and her future aspirations as a Bahraini royal…

D. Mark Harrison: So Carena, it's a bit of an understatement to say that I know you pretty well, so how do you feel about me roping you in to be the first victim of So Hot Right Now?

Carena West: Well, I would say that right now I feel like how Neil Armstrong felt when they told him he was going to the moon, ecstatic, but at the same time a little worried because I'm the first one doing it, and I know that the guy running the operation is a little dodgy and I need to be careful. But in all seriousness, I'm flattered!

D.M.H. You’ve recently been in the Kingdom of Bahrain visiting your family, (who, for the benefit of the readers, are Kiwis who live and work in Bahrain) how did you find it on a true desert island?

C.W. Living in Bahrain seems to be like living on a fantasy island, if you don't take it seriously you'll have fun! Especially when you are driving, why not join in the chorus of car horns in gridlocked traffic? You're probably best if you aren't in a hurry to contact anyone as well because the Internet is absolute bollocks, and every second website is blocked by the government for being inappropriate! On the lighter side, we went out boating every day, and you can get whatever food you want delivered so I didn’t feel the need to punish anyone with my cooking!

D.M.H. So, Bahrain is pretty nuts. Did you have fun at the F1 Grand Prix? I heard a Bahraini Prince made you an offer you couldn't refuse. Any truth to that rumour?!

C.W. Yep, it sure is a different world! To cut a long story short I ended up spending all of the weekend at the Bahrain International Boat Show and never quite made it to the F1! And as for the offer, well I don’t think that I should disclose anything like that on the internet!

D.M.H. You've previously starred in Miss Hawaiian Tropic Uncovered and Celebrity Treasure Island and now you're in Girl Racers on Sky. What is it with you and reality TV?

C.W. Ah, reality TV. I don't know what it is with me, more of a love/hate relationship I think! but I did get paid to live on an island for two weeks, and then to drive racing cars. How could I say no to that? I know that the film crew for girl racers were insanely jealous, having boobies has its 'perks'!

D.M.H. Ha! Nasty pun. So did you manage to stack any cars during the show or do we have to wait and see?

C.W. Why would I tell you that when I want you to watch the show and find out for yourself?!

D.M.H. Ok, we will then! If you were a TV producer and had a pile of cash to make a reality show, what would you produce?

C.W. Something absolutely ridiculous would have to be it. Americas Next Top Drag Queen? It could be a mixture of Next Top Model and X Factor, where some poor unsuspecting guys would have to become drag queens and perform for an audience. Hahaha! I can just see it now! Or what about a TV show where people think they are being flown to a Brazil to film, but their plane ditches and they have to fend for themselves on some South American island in the middle of nowhere in only Mardi Gras costumes for a couple of months. And they think its for real. That would be magic!

D.M.H. It would! Like “Lost” only interesting and slightly camp. So since you're up with the play tell us what you think is hot in the city right now?

C.W. Hmmm... What's hot in the city at the moment? Going out with friends for cheap food and BYO wine and all of the new season jackets and dresses that I can't quite afford!

D.M.H. Yeah, well I blame the recession. Good luck with Girl Racers. We follow with interest…