Record Miss Samoa Pageant Floats Stops Apia for Hours

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 06 September 2024 – Early Friday morning and the streets of Apia were already buzzing with excitement as sleepless decorators who stayed up all night to get their masterpieces ready for display were already pulling in to take their places at the starting point for the Miss Samoa Contestants floats parade.

It is a record 15 floats in all and accented by the support of the 15 districts the beauties have been assigned as their Miss to support for the pageant.

Some of the districts arrived at the Vaisigano Bridge where the parade started from as early as 4.00 am.

Led by the Police Brass Band, the parade was smartly directed down Beach Road towards the Government building for the formalities which was over in less than two hours.

But perhaps the loudest cheer was float 16 which featured and carried the reigning Miss Samoa and Miss South Pacific, Moemoana Safaatoa Schwenke whose float was proudly decorated and supported by her village of Asau in Savai’i.

The 15 contestants each had a theme which was highlighted and depicted by their respective floats decorations.

Contestants & Themes
Contestants No.1. Miss Samoa New South Wales Epiphanyetaline Agalelei Vaomua Wright, supported by A’ana Alofi 1 District on the theme Protect the Ocean, it is the Life of Tomorrow – Puipui Le Sami, O Le Ola Lea o a Taeao.

Contestants No.2. Miss Samoa Hawai’i, Tanara Su’e Faamasuli rowed into town on a boat prepared by the Va’a o Fonoti District on the theme Solidarity for Gender Equality –Tutufa’atasi mo Avanoa Tutusa.

Contestant No.3. Miss Falealili Ingridvanie Fetoai, supported by the Falealili District Council on the theme Women Weaving Together Strengthens the Community – E Au le Inailau a Tamaitai, e Fa’avae ai le Manuia o le Nu’u.

Contestant No.4. Miss Tausala Amerika, Anastasia Pagostar Maiai, supported by Sagaga 1 on the theme Happiness For the New Dawn – Mitamitaga mo se Taeao fou

Contestant No.5. Miss JADS Samoa, Rayleen Simati, supported by Faleata 1 District on the theme Disability Does Not Limit Strength – E le Fa’atapula’aina e le A’afiaga Tumau, Malosiaga ma Agava’a

Contestants No.6. Miss Pacific Mix Ida Siala Okesene supported by Vaimauga 1 District on the theme Positive Change Begins With You  – Matua, e Amata ia oe Fa’ata’ita’iga Lelei

Contestant No.7. Miss Liahona Consultancy Teuila Emmy Alofipo supported by Lepa District on the theme Inspire-to-Action for a Beautiful Samoa – Fa’aosofia Gaioiga mo se Samoa Matalasi

Contestant No. 8. Miss Samoa Victoria Inc. Chantelle Tautunuafatasi supported by Faleata 4 District on the theme Healthy family, Healthy Samoa – Aiga Soifua Maloloina, Samoa Maloloina

Contestant No.9. Miss Pacific Climate Warriors Brianna Marisa Romana Fruean supported by the Lotofaga District on the theme Safe Families, Prosperous Samoa – Aiga Saogalemu, Samoa Manuia

Contestant No.10. Miss Impact Services Litara Ieremia Allan supported by Anoamaa 2 on the theme Nothing About Us, without Us – E Leai se mea e Uiga ia i Matou, e Aunoa ma Matou.

Contestants No.11. Miss Samoa Queensland, So’otuli Ausage Pepe supported by Vaimauga 3 District on the theme Youth at the Heart of Progress  – Tupulaga o le Fatu o Samoa .

Contestant No.12. Miss Samoa USA Josephina Fa’atupufilemu Lealaitafea supported by Falealili 2 District and her theme was Love Is Not Violent  – E le Sauā Le Alofa.

Contestant No.13. Miss Hidden Threader Lydia Moananu supported by Anoamaa 1 District on the theme Protect Children, They Are Tomorrow’s Hope – Puipui le Fanau, o i Latou o le Fa’amoemoe o Taeao

Contestant No. 14. Miss Samoa New Zealand Precious Mirama Tusega supported by Sagaga 3 District on the theme Protect the Environment for the Future of Our Children  – Puipui le Si’osi’omaga mo le Lumanai o Tatou Fanau

Contestant No.15. Miss Lavashe Couture Alaimalo Joanna Vasa supported by Sagaga 4 District on the theme Early Steps Matter – Fa’ataua Laasaga Muamua o le Ola

It is the second Miss Samoa Pageant organised by The Anofale Production Inc. that made changes such as judging the Introduction, Sarong and Puletasi categories by the public.

The other change is assigning the contestants to districts so they can learn and experience Samoan culture and be part of the community activities.

Anofale Production Chairperson Leituala Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago said this is a lifetime chance for the girls, especially those from abroad to learn experience and be part of community activities and as for public judging of other categories, it is an opportunity for the public as not all will make it to the final night, to be part of the pageant.

With 4 categories already judged, the remaining categories, the Interview, Talent, Traditional Wear, National Tourism Award, Photogenic, Miss Internet will all be known on Pageant night, Saturday 7 September 2024.