Ask 5-year-old Zara Crosbie what she wants to be when she grows up and the answer may surprise you.
"I want to be a veterinarian, a dancer and ... a wrestler."
The Invercargill girl was raised on wrestling — her father is Troy Crosbie, ring name Powerhouse T-Rex, and he and wife Michelle Crosbie were among the founders of Southern Pro Wrestling (SPW).
Zara has been involved in many events, bonding with wrestlers and becoming the mascot of the troupe.
"I really enjoy it. I made a lot of friends and have a lot of fun. One of my favourite things is going to the events and cheer for the wrestlers."
"Usually I hate the bad guys, but I make an exception when my father is playing one of them," she says, laughing.
Her parents believed her interest in wrestling at such a young age was natural, as both were "completely addicted" to the sport.
Michelle grew up watching wrestling shows in her grandmother’s house, while Troy always dreamed of having a wrestling league in New Zealand.
Their love blossomed from this common interest and they even had their honeymoon in the United States in order to go to WrestleMania, the largest wrestling event in the world.
Michelle says she had to explain to Zara that everything in wrestling was part of a show.
"I had to take her out to the back and had a conversation with her. But when she reached 2 years old, she was completely used to it.
"Now, she is always in the front row of the events and she is the one that yells loudest."
But Zara does not only hang backstage. In one of the training shows, she played the role of her father’s manager.
The experience was so great that Zara already knows what her wrestler name would be.
"My father is T-Rex, so I would be Z-Rex."
"And the best thing is ... I know most of the secrets."
Troy believed some people created a stereotype about the sport, but her daughter was proof that a child could have a happy and healthy life growing in the wrestling industry.
"From day one, she gets along with everyone. She is very sociable and can hold a conversation with any kid or adult. She is very determined, as well."
Proof of this was her determination to create her own business — the #ZeesTees.
Zara has had a dream of travelling to America for the last couple of years to go to Disneyland and WrestleMania.
As part of her home schooling, her parents explained about setting and working towards a savings goal.
"Of course, we want to support her and her dreams so we agreed that if she can save enough to get there herself we would take her."
She decided to create a business making T-shirts, which are sold online. The T-shirts display messages and prints which express her sentiments, such as "Chase your dream" and "I am brave, strong and beautiful."
Zara expanded the business to include tie-dye tees, singlets, tops and socks.
"As parents we are really proud of her and her dedication to chasing her dreams at a such a young age."
The family plans to travel in March next year, but Zara has already started packing.
"I can’t wait to see Mickey Mouse and Travis Banks, my wrestler friend."
