Arts & Entertainment
Newly crowned Miss Samoa continues her family’s legacy
Story & Photos by Lagi Keresoma
Apia, Samoa – 11 September 2023: The newly crowned Miss Samoa Moemoana Safaatoa Schwenke was born into a family of performing artists.
Her parents are founders of the Matavai cultural group that focuses on teaching cultural dances and promoting Samoan culture in Australia.
“As a young person growing up, all I wanted to do is honour my parents and continue to build on their legacy, and 25 years later, it’s an honour to walk in my mother’s shoes and do honour and justice and build on their legacy,” she said after being crowned Miss Samoa last Saturday night.
Moemoana is the daughter of former Miss Samoa and Miss Pacific 1997, Maryjane Mckibbin Schwenke.
Miss Samoa 2023/2024 with her mother Maryjane Mckibbin Schwenke.
Maryjane entered the Miss Samoa pageant in 1995 as Miss Samoa Australia. She did not win but decided to stay on in Samoa.
In 1997, she entered again in the Miss Samoa Pageant as a local contestant and won, then went on to win the Miss Pacific title held in New Zealand the same year.
That was 25 years ago, and now her daughter Moemoana has followed her footsteps by winning the first leg of the journey.
The focus now is her preparation for the Miss Pacific Pageant in Nauru in November and would like to see Samoa win the crown.
Both Moemoana and her mother acknowledged all their families in Asau and Auala in Savaii and Lefaga,
Maryjane also acknowledged the support of the people in New South Wales where her daughters’ journey started.
“I have to give my daughter now to Samoa and trust she will do what she has to do to serve the nation. Our greatest gift from God is our children and to honour God we try to raise them in a way that they can honour, respect those who came before them,” said Maryjane.
She believes her daughter has a lot to offer to make Samoa proud.
Ready to Serve
“Samoa, you have my heart and I am ready to serve for the betterment of Samoa and I am very proud to be crowned your new Miss Samoa,” Moemoana said after she was crowned.
She scooped 6 special awards from ten individual categories and walked away as the overall winner of the three hours long competition.
Being a daughter of a former beauty queen, Moemoana said winning the crown was a dream come true.
Moemoana went up against 9 contestants who showcased their best and kept the audience on their toes throughout the night.
The newly crowned Miss Samoa performing her siva with the first runner up Miss Nicolina Ah Kuoi (Miss Apia Insurance) on the right.
A pageant to remember
The pageant is the first for the Onomea Productions and was opened by Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa who acknowledged the contribution of all of Samoa as the highlight to the Teuila Tourism Festival.
Fiame said Samoa’s identity speaks for its cultural values which nurture and raise young women with potential in accepting their call as ambassadors in a platform of self-discovery.
It was a full house and cheering for every contestant was deafening in every category.
Then came Contestant No.4, Miracle Afele who has a disability and sang through sign language the song “This Is Me” for her talent.
One of the pageant organisers said Miracle had certainly achieved what she set out to do by using the Miss Samoa Pageant platform to send out a message that whether one has a disability or not, everyone is equal in the eyes of God and the song “This Is Me” summed it up well.
Winner of the traditional attire category, Miss Nicolina Ah Kuoi representing Apia Insurance.
Each contestant performed their talents with a bit of humour; from an artist to a seamstress, a dancer, designer, fire knife dancer and a broadcaster, each kept the audiences calling out for more.
The judging of the Puletasi and Sarong category was conducted on the premier night at the Friendship Park last Wednesday. The other 4 categories were judged throughout the two week program and the remaining categories Siva Samoa, Traditional Attire, Talent and Interview were showcased on the pageant night.
Frequent pageant goers rated this as the best ever “as there was not a dull moment right from the beginning.”
They also thought despite their struggle in the interview section, the contestants did well and they congratulated the Onomea Production for putting up a show to remember.
However, there were others who believed the interview questions could have been simplified and not long and complicated.
Digicel Miss Samoa Pageant Placings
Miss Samoa 2023/2024 – Moemoana Safa’atoa Schwenke (Miss NSW)
1st Runner-up – Nicolina Ah Kuoi (Miss Apia Insurance)
2nd Runner-up – Karameli Sara Purcell (Miss Arilei Couture)
3rd Runner-up – Moeloto Vitolio Tuilaepa Tiatia (Miss Lototatau Agency)
4th Runner-up – Miracle Afele (Miss Samoa Association of Sign Languages Interpreters)
Special Awards
Miss Personality – Vaelei Von Dinklage
National Tourism Award -Karameli Sarah Purcell
Miss Photogenic – Tashana Opelu
Miss Internet – Moemoana Safaatoa Schwenke
Siva Samoa – Moemoana Saafaatoa Scwenke
Sarong – Moemoana Safaatoa Schwenke
Puletasi – Moemoana Safaatoa Schwenke
Traditional attire – Nicolina Ah Kuoi
Talent – Moemoana Safaatoa Schwenke
Best interview – Moemoana Safaatoa Schwenke