Millie Elder-Holmes’ mum gets moko

Millie Elder-Holmes has shared a stunning photo of mum Hinemoa Elder’s new moko.

Millie is now living in Greece, but has always been fiercely proud of her family and her Kiwi heritage. 

In a recent Instagram post from her clean-eating blog Clean Eatz NZ, she shared a special picture of her mum new moko saying: “Something very special happened in my life today."

“My mum has made her #Mokokauae (Moko Kauae - women's Maori face tattoo) something she has been talking about for years, its a symbol of a deep connection with your culture and ancestors."

“I don't often speak about my #Maori heritage because I feel so much more connected with my Greek side but when I see things like this and when I sat with my mum for her first #TaMoko (traditional Maori tattoo).”

“I'm blown away with the power and energy around these traditions. I'm so f***ing proud of you mum, it looks like it was meant to be there, it's so apart of you, you blow me away with you intuitiveness and strength I'm hoping to be even half the woman you are."

Something very special happened in my life today, my mum has made her #Mokokauae (Moko Kauae - women's Maori face tattoo) something she has been talking about for years, its a symbol of a deep connection with your culture and ancestors....I don't often speak about my #Maori heritage because I feel so much more connected with my Greek side but when I see things like this and when I sat with my mum for her first #TaMoko (traditional Maori tattoo) I'm blown away with the power and energy around these traditions. I'm so fucking proud of you mum, it looks like it was meant to be there, it's so apart of you, you blow me away with you intuitiveness and strength I'm hoping to be even half the woman you are.... " For Māori women, the moko kauae, or traditional female chin tattoo, is considered a physical manifestation of their true identity. It is believed every Māori woman wears a moko on the inside, close to their heart; when they are ready, the tattoo artist simply brings it out to the surface." - broadly @ vice . . . . . #maori #tamoko #maoritattoo #māori #mokokauae #proud #mymumma

A post shared by • MILLIE ELDER HOLMES • (@cleaneatznz) on Jun 16, 2017 at 11:10pm PDT

 This article was first published on Spy and is republished here with permission.