Years later, when she watched a television documentary on the Auckland roller-derby league, she knew that it was for her.
"I just saw the sport and thought ... that's perfect," she recalled.
Now she moves between two very different worlds - creating feminine clothing under the self-titled Charmaine Reveley label - and donning her skates and helmet for the cut and thrust of a full-contact sport which combines athleticism and strategy.
It is an interesting mix for a grounded young woman who goes under the alter-ego Little Yellow Jacket when she is doing derby - one of the fastest growing women's sports in the world.
Miss Reveley (29) moved to Dunedin to study fashion. Her mother was a dressmaker and "something to do with design" was always on the cards for a career.
She started her label in 2003, having moved straight from her fashion degree into the Dunedin fashion incubator.
That two and-a-half years in the incubator gave her a "kick-start into the industry", with other designers and mentors to learn from. Then she moved out into her own work space and business has been growing slowly since.
Miss Reveley said the past two years had been the best she had ever had, despite the recession.
Her label had developed since its inception and her focus was on using "really nice" fabrics to create wearable, simple feminine pieces.
"It's just great to be doing something you really enjoy. I get a real kick out of meeting my customers and dealing with them and getting to know them and what they like about my label.
"I really enjoy doing that and really enjoy working with great retailers," she said.
Miss Reveley, who sells her clothing throughout New Zealand, hoped to continue to expand her label and get into the export market in the next couple of years, but at a manageable level.
While it was a busy lifestyle, juggling work with a demanding sport - "it's tricky to fit in with work but it's do-able" - she found roller derby was a good outlet.
"You can go and just forget about everything and just skate, which is nice."
She is part of the Dunedin Derby Gallow Lasses which will meet the Otautahi All Stars, from Christchurch, in the Hell on the Harbour roller derby on October 29.
Doors open at 6pm at the Lion Foundation Arena at the Edgar Centre and the bout starts at 7pm. It is the first inter-league bout in the South Island and it was going to be "epic", she said.
She describes roller derby as "really hard core", and says the physical commitment, let alone anything else, was "huge", with training three to four times a week. "You've got to be superfit," she said.
With a rule book that was "half an inch thick", it took a long time to learn the sport, which revolved around a lot of strategies.
"Everyone that starts to play roller derby falls in love with it. It's like nothing else, really," she said.
Those involved in the league in Dunedin were a diverse group.
"There's no other way I'd probably meet these people apart from the fact we are all passionate and love derby.
"It attracts a certain element in a person but it attracts a wide range of people."
