High expectations for Miss Samoa in the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant

By LISE SCHMIDT/

Apia, Samoa – 24 January 2024: With the recent success of former Miss Samoa, Hyalani Pearl Kuruppu in the Miss Global, the Samoan public are expecting more from Miss Samoa Moemoana Safaatoa at the upcoming Miss Pacific Pageant in Nauru next month.

In her official Miss Samoa press conference held at Samoa Tourism Authority Fale yesterday, Moemoana reiterated. “It will be selfish of me to focus on my own individual challenges because I have a whole country to make proud- although there might be little bumps here and there- it’s more important to stay positive and making sure that I do the country proud because it is not about me it is about everyone else.”

The accomplished Moemoana is the daughter of Mary Jane Mckibbin Schwenke who was Miss Samoa in 1997 and won the Miss South Pacific title in 1998.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Indigenous Studies and Enviromental Humanities from the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.

Confident, Moemoana shared, “It’s not the pageant but highlighting the issues of our Island Country. This is not about me, this is about the country, it is not about the Title, it is about Le Tausala Samoa and the legacy that I have been honoured to carry in the last four months.”

Miss Samoa Press Conference Panel

The Miss Pacific Islands 2024 will be the 35th edition of the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant since its inception in 1987.

Miss Samoa Moemoana Safaatoa Schwenke is travelling this week with her strong team of 10 to represent Samoa in the upcoming Pageant in Nauru.

Seven contestants are vying for the crown this year with Tonga represented by Miss Sitita Hamilton Vaenuku, Miss Tayla Singirok of Papua New Guinea, Miss Dee Raya Antonio of Palau, Miss Rosita Rokobuli of Nauru, Miss Claret Taonang ChongGum of the Marshall Islands, Miss American Samoa Judy Faafetai Taunu’u and Miss Samoa Moemoana Safaatoa Schwenke.

The Miss Pacific Islands 2024 will take place from 28 January to 04 February 2024.