Georgia Awatea Jones

At only 24 years old, Georgia Awatea Jones has transformed her passion for content creation into a success story as a result of her Haka and Pepeha video sky rocketing.

Georgia has garnered an impressive following on social media, with over 12.9 million likes and more than 255,000 followers.Her influence is not only a testament to her creativity but also to her dedication to uplifting Māori culture and the values that accompany it.

Through her engaging content, Georgia has become a strong representative and advocate for rangatahi Māori paving the way for more young Māori creators to share their stories and perspectives encouraging others to follow their dreams and embrace their cultural identity with confidence.

Her powerful message: “If you whakapapa Māori, you are Māori. Don’t let anyone tell you any different - Tū pakari, Tū Rangatira, Hei raukura mō tō iwi!” highlighting the importance of cultural pride and self-acceptance.

As Georgia continues to rise as a prominent figure in the content creation landscape, there’s no doubt that she will inspire countless others to use their voices and confidently express themselves.

Ko wai koe? Tell us your story?

Kia ora e te whānau o Girl Native!

My name is Georgia, I am 24 year old and i am a Māori/Australian content creator living in Perth. My Māmā is Māori and my Dad is Australian. I was born in Australia and lived there until i was 13 then my Māmā decided that it was time to move home to Aotearoa.

To be completely honest, i wasn’t too fond of the idea, moving to Invercargill from The Gold Coast but mum said we needed to go look after Koro & Nan and we also needed to learn about our culture. I grew up (in Australia) knowing i was Māori but not understanding what that meant. So it was important to my mum for us to know where we came from so we made the move, my mum, my little sister and I.

I am forever indebted to my mum for making us move home, I wouldn’t be the wahine i am today if we’d stayed in Australia. 

*I would like to note that this doesn’t take away from my Australian side or my dad - I am a proud Mozzie (Māori + Aussie) 

 

TikTok kind of happened by accident haha a friend from High school (Vania Waihirere) and I were in the shed yarning about what we could do to get famous on TikTok, she said “if you do a haka it will go viral, because you’re white.” So i did it and then boom 200k views in less than 24 hours. Most of the comments were positive but a good portion of them were negative, one of them read: “Another white person reappropriated someone else’s culture” This never upset me it just made me laugh, i responded the next day with a video of me saying my pepeha. This got even more views than the haka. & thats how it all began, i am now coming into my third year of content creation! 

 

What are your top 5 favourite beauty or skincare products that you cant live without? 

*in no particular order

MCo Beauty's Lip Peptide Treatment

CeraVe Retinol 

Any eyelash curler 

Nars soft matte complete concealer

Cetaphil's moisturiser 

 

What does a typical day look like to you? 

At the moment I live in Perth! My partner works in the mines so i followed him here Everyday is different because I work from home doing content creation on Tiktok and Instagram!

I will always go to the gym (during the week). I (aim to) film at least 2 videos a day, nothing all that exciting really haha but I am grateful to be able to live the way i do. 

 

What challenges have you faced as a Māori Influencer, and how have you overcome them? 

I face a lot of criticism and hate based on the colour of my skin/the way i look. This however doesn’t ‘challenge’ me as i know where i come from, i know who i am. The reason i have brought this up is because i know many of our rangatahi Māori struggle with their cultural identity (based on their appearance) so i speak for those who dont feel confident, i speak so one day they will find their voice. 

Define beauty in your own words? 

I feel like beauty cannot be defined because beauty comes in so many different forms, shapes, colours and textures. We are all beautiful in our own way. 

 

What do you envision for the future of Māori beauty and skincare, especially in the global market? 

I would love to see more of our rongoa Māori in the global market! I wish i could buy/harvest kawakawa here in Ahitereiria

Who is a Māori role model that has significantly inspired you, and what lessons have you learned from them? 

I feel like this is such a deep question. This question was personally, the hardest question out of all of them because I have been inspired by many Māori over the years for various reasons. I am inspired by Dame Whina Cooper for walking. I am inspired by Tame Iti for standing up for his people, our people. I am inspired by Taika Waititi for showing our people to the world. I am inspired by Kingi Tūheitia Paki for leading so powerfully yet so humbly (moe mai rā e te Rangatira). I am inspired by Dr Hinemoa Elder for her tuhituhi, her journals are next level. I am inspired by Mike King for standing up for mental health. I am inspired by Whaea Arni Wainui for never giving up on Arowhenua, without her i wouldn't have my reo. 

Now, i am sure you have heard of most of those people but I am also extremely influenced and inspired by the Māori in my whānau, especially the wāhine; My Māmā and My eldest sister. There are many lessons i have learnt from these beautiful people and honestly i could sit here for hours typing and acknowledging, however the goal is that you read this whole blog lol so i'll leave you with the biggest lesson i've learnt through these people; how to be a decent human being, a decent tangata Māori. 

 

What are some of your favourite rituals that help you connect with your culture or enhance your well-being? 

Going to the moana, whenua, ngahere, awa - Te Taiao. Take your shoes off and connect with Papatuanuku. Go for a swim with Tangaroa. Listen to the sounds of Tane Mahuta. Sitting with Hina. Talking to my Koro. 

 

What message would you like to share with the next generation of Rangatahi Māori about following their dreams and celebrating their culture?

“The world is your oyster but you have to shuck it first” 

If you want something you can get it but you have to work for it! 

As far as celebrating your culture you don't have to work for that, if you whakapapa Māori, you are Māori dont ever let anyone tell you different.

Tū pakari, tū rangatira, hei raukura mo to iwi!

 

What does success mean to you?

If i can convince one rangatahi or one Māori that they are Māori enough depsite what they look like or what other puta mohio's say, i would call that success. 

 

Lastly, If you could have any superpower of Atua Wahine which would it be? 

Mahuika’s maikuku 

Where can we find you?

Tiktok 

Instagram