Hotter Than Fish Grease: Mahina Garcia

Let Stab introduce you to Mahina Garcia, 20 years old and from the North Shore of Oahu…

Stab: Please, describe yourself.
Mahina: I was born on Oahu and live here now, but Kauai is my second home where we have lots of farm land. It’s a beautiful place with fruit trees, goats, chickens, cows and a few dogs and there’s a lot of labor involved to keep it maintained. I live a simple life and I’m not materialistic. As long as I have food on the table, my family, my love, God and the beach I’m happy.

Photo: Ana Monique

Loves and loathes of the North Shore? Well, I wouldn’t have it any other way! The life we live is what many can only dream of. Who wouldn’t want to walk around barefoot eating poke & acai bowls in a bikini? The only thing I hate about the North Shore is the crazy, bumper-to-bumper traffic every contest season.

Your father, Kaiborg, is a charming and lovely gent, but he’s certainly an imposing figure. Kaiborg who? Just kidding! I’m actually more afraid of my mother, except Dad yelled at me the other day and my heart fell out of my chest! But Mom is the only woman who can lay down the rules to Dad. He’s bad-ass, very good at Jujitsu, and Cross Fit is his newfound joy. I couldn’t have asked for a better Dad, he’s a gentle giant – if you don’t do anything stupid, that is.

I imagine boys weren’t in a rush to meet your parents, then. Being the daughter of Kaiborg is actually a blessing because it’s saved me from a lot of typical teenage drama. The most common line I use to get was: “You’re really pretty and I want to talk to you… but your Dad is too scary.” It was the lamest excuse I’d ever heard and I’d tell them.

But one gent didn’t fold, now you’re dating a Florence brother! Yeah, I never went on a real date and I never had a serious boyfriend until Mr. Nathan Florence came around. Nathan and I actually dated in third grade, where I made the first move of course, and we’ve been best friends since. He is the coolest cat and he brings out the best in people. They were well raised.

For a beautiful woman like you, modelling must come easy. I was scouted at a young age by Niche Models and moved to LA and Miami. There, I modelled full-time for four years. I scored jobs with amazing clients, and the money was unbeatable! But, all of a sudden my hips grew and I started to fill into my womanly body.

It’s a rose-coloured glass industry. Did you learn hard lessons? The industry treats hips, thighs, butts and boobs like they’re a sin and I struggled alongside younger models. But I couldn’t keep living that lifestyle and I was sick of being what other people wanted me to be. So many girls and boys are told they are too “fat”. I’ve watched friends struggle with their image. But I released I had to embrace my curves because the healthiest, strongest me is better than a weak, unhealthy me. People seem to forget we come in all shapes and sizes, skinny is beautiful, if it’s natural. Curvy is beautiful, if it’s natural and healthy. I am trying to be the change I want to see!