Rotorua's Hinetaapora Short already knows life as the Milky Bar Kid is going to come with perks.
The bubbly 8-year-old was given four boxes of the chocolate bars and a "huge" gift hamper for Christmas since appearing on national television last December to audition for the role of the modern Milky
Bar Kid.
The Te Kura o Te Koutu student beat more than 1500 nationwide entries to become the first female and Maori Milky Bar Kid. She speaks fluent Maori and is learning Spanish.
"To celebrate, my friend came over and we did some baking and then we had a big barbecue with everyone," Hinetaapora said.
She will start filming the cowgirl-themed commercial for Nestle in early March, but has already had plenty of time in the limelight.
"I was on the Good Morning show, which was fun and scary, it was in front of a lot of people," she said.
The Short family have featured in New Idea magazine and have been front page news in Rarotonga, where Hinetaapora's grandfather lives.
"People have been saying, 'Are you the Milky Bar Kid?'.
"I still have to do the commercial, which I can't wait [for], cause it's going to be fun."
Her father, Eric, said they have all been enjoying the school holidays for now.
"It's been good.
"When she was first named there was a lot of interest and a lot of recognition, but other than that it's been pretty quiet."
More than 11,000 votes were received in the Milky Bar Kid competition and a panel of judges decided the overall winner, shortlisted from 10 contestants.
