Miss Pacific Islands Pageant

Pitcher will be representing Nauru at the pageant in Samoa.

She is no stranger to the competition, as she is the daughter of crowned Miss Samoa in 1981.

Her mother, Juliana Curry Pitcher also went on to represent Samoa in the Miss World competition in the same year she held the title.

Pitcher with her Chaperone Faith Mau have officially checked in along with the other pageant contestants including American Samoa, Solomon Island and Samoa.

Finch is currently in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea where the pageant is underway.

The student is currently enrolled at the University of the South Pacific Nauru Campus doing preliminary studies in pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in the Agricultural sector.

Just last month Miss Pasua represented Tuvalu at various at the United Nations Youth Climate Change Summit in New York, and also as Peace Boat Ocean and Climate Youth Ambassador.

She said: “I am the second daughter born into a country known for its culture and togetherness. I am proud to say that I was not only raised by my immediate family but the community of Tuvalu – a common story for any Tuvaluan.

“My name is Fonoifafo Nancy McFarland Seumanu. I am 24 years old, a Public Health Nurse by profession; a dance and music enthusiast; and Miss Samoa 2019.

“I am excited to be part of this year’s Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, representing my homeland. I am eager to meet each one of my Pacific sisters and get to know them.

I hope throughout the pageant week, we will exemplify the beauty of each of our culture and country that make the Pacific Islands vibrant and unique.”

Kariha and the other five contestants of the 2018 Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, accompanied by the current Miss Pacific Islands, paid a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister of Tonga, Akilisi Pōhiva, on Tuesday.

“I was especially honoured to meet the Prime Minister of our host country,” she said. "This has been a busy but an amazing journey for me so far!

“Judging begins today with the research topic presentation. I will be talking on empowerment of women. This is such an important topic not just for my country but on a broader scale for the Pacific region.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi assured reigning Miss Samoa, Alexandra Iakopo that the Board can expect a formal letter from the government.

Iakopo was crowned first runner up in the regional pageant that was held in Fiji last week.

“In my eyes and in the eyes of your country, you are still a winner in our book,” Tuilaepa told Iokopo when she paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister.

On the same token, he is pleased with the overall performance by Miss Samoa and has accepted with pride the outcome.

“Many still do to this day,” says Molly O’Rourke, chairperson of Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) PNG.

She says opportunities such as the pageant puts PNG on a different scale.

“Because we can do more than that (headdress and bare-chest)… This is where these ladies (designers) come in with their different cultures and talents,” she said.

The chairperson further explained that a designer’s role now is to use modern materials but speak a traditional story.

The pageant week begins with a church service and over the course of the week will assess each contestants through various activities planned.

Contestants representing eight Pacific Islands - American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Tonga have all gathered in Apia, Samoa.

Contestants and their teams started arriving in Samoa last week for the 30^th anniversary of the Miss Pacific Islands.

The team settled into Taumeasina Island Resort, owned by PNG’s Lamana Group.

The hotel, opened only in June this year, will be host to the eight Pacific Island contestants and their team over the duration of the pageant.

The resort is an official sponsor of the Miss Pacific Islands pageant.

“Taumeasina is just awesome. Our PNG flag is just flying high outside. We’re so proud as all the contestants and their teams arrive,” the team spokesperson relayed.

Havora boarded the plane today with the rest of team PNG who are travelling to Samoa for the regional pageant.

This will be her final trip as the regional queen and ambassador, a title she had carried since being crowned in Cook Islands, last year.

“I started as a young eager Papua New Guinean and with every opportunity, shone light on the good side of my country,” Havora said.

“How do I unite a region?” was the first question that hit her hard.

But after soul searching, she is confident to tell her successor that it’s all about values.