By BRIDGET COOK
CRANBOURNE’S born and bred Nanna Shazza epitomises the idiom bogan – she’s a Collingwood supporting, Holden loving, bourbon drinking, toothless grandma.
And now it’s official that the larger-than-life character is Australia’s biggest female bogan after taking out the title on Tuesday night.
While it is a label that might be shunned by most, Shazza is proud as punch of her latest achievement.
The 40-year-old was unearthed by 7Mate’s reality television show Bogan Hunters which went on a nationwide hunt to find the best stereotypical Aussie characters.
Nanna Shazza, who has spent the majority of her life in Cranbourne, made it to the top seven and was flown to Sydney to compete in the final where she was judged by a panel of celebrities on her bogan appearance, attitude and… sex appeal.
After taking part in a range of bogan challenges including thong slappin’, pole dancing and debating the relative merits of Holdens or Fords, Shazza was awarded the biggest bogan female title in Tuesday night’s episode.
“I’m just being me so I am really proud of this,” she said.
“I’ve been a proud bogan all my life.
“I was a tomboy when I was child and was always out in the shed or garden with my dad and lived a laid-back country life.
“I don’t take crap from no one.
“I’ve had struggles throughout my life but my attitude is to just pick myself up and get on with things.”
Nanna Shazza was born in Cranbourne and lived there with her family until she was about 20 years old.
She said she was the black sheep of her family and she was a bigger bogan than her five other siblings.
“I started at Cranny north school then moved to the Cranny west primary school and went to Cranny tech,” she said.
She said she has all the characteristics of a bogan but she was just being herself.
“I’ve got no teeth, I’m a Collingwood supporter, I’m a nan and a don’t give a f**k what nobody says,” she said.
“My attitude is give as much as you get and don’t back down.
“I love my Holdens, I love my footy and I love bonfires, bourbon and barbecues.
“I’m far from a girly girl, you won’t see me in dresses with make-up or high heels.
“I’m all about my Ugg boots and leggings.”
In one of the episodes she said that in her kitchen it was all about ‘scratch and bum night’.
“You walk in the kitchen, scratch your bum and look in the cupboard. If there’s something to eat, grab it,” she said.
Now living in the La Trobe Valley she said everyone around town knows her for exactly what she is.
“I don’t take crap from nobody,” she said.
“I’ll do anything for anyone, but if you piss me off you better run.
“I’ve been in an abusive marriage in the past. I didn’t take crap from him, so I sure as hell won’t take it from anyone else.”
In next week’s episode, Shazza receives a makeover from fashion designer Henry Roth.
“I told them they can do what they like to the outside, you won’t change who I am inside!”
Bogan Hunters makeover episode will air next Tuesday at 9.30pm on 7mate.
