Look how far Sara Tetro has come

New Zealand's Next Top Model judge Sara Tetro. Photo / Supplied

Oh

Sara

. I love that your recent public exposure as the Kiwi

Tyra Banks

on TV3's

New Zealand's Next Top Model

has catapulted you in to the showbiz limelight, but I'm miffed I didn't pick up on your leadership and exhibitionist qualities before.

I mean, I know you used to be a 91FM cheerleader at Auckland's Eden Park circa 1991, but I didn't know the style in those days brought with it a pep rally cheer of G-O-D A-W-F-U-L U-G-L-Y.

Luckily, my hard-working photo archivist has helped to make it so much clearer.

Evidently, you were fierce, even back then. How else would you explain the fact you weren't ashamed to wear a leotard, skin-coloured fishnets and a bad bob in public?

Not that I'm mocking your style. In a woman's magazine spread recently, you appeared all shiny, polished and new. I'm just saying, it's funny, isn't it, how far you've come.

You see, I hear your pain. I, too, suffered from bad haircutitis, a rare follicle condition peculiar to the '80s that no woman should endure today. I blame mine on that cougar

Kelly McGillis

who seduced flyboy

Tom Cruise

in

Top Gun

. Man, I loved that movie... that perm... those young fighter pilots with the silly monikers.

But that was 1986. And I wasn't, how do you say, committed to Reeboks and unitards, as well.

Not that you were on your own, Sara.

One News

presenter

Wendy Petrie

was in the squad with you. Bless. Her perm and hair scrunchie takes me back to those good old days with Maverick, Iceman, Goose and Viper.

But I don't imagine either of you would be pleased these photographs are being dragged up from your past now. Best hidden, I reckon you're thinking.

But you looked great, Sara. You looked cute, healthy and bubbly, like any young 21-year-old should. Which must make your job so much harder now as you sit on that panel of alleged experts and judge those precious young model wannabes so harshly primarily on their looks?

It's funny how far you've come, eh?

Rachel Glucina

Pictured: Sara Tetro. Photo / Supplied