Caption: Newly Crowned Miss South Pacific, Tessi Leila Toluta’u
Being crowned Miss South Pacific 2007/2008 last Saturday night was a fairy tale come true for the lovely winner, Tonga’s Miss Tessi Leila Toluta’u.
“Winning the Miss South Pacific crown was like an undreamed dream come true for me” says Tessi Leila Toluta’u.
She has always watched the Miss South Pacific Pageants while growing up. She was twelve when the Miss South Pacific from Samoa came over to Tonga that year and performed so beautifully, it became a wish to become a participant when she grows up.
Now that she has lived her dream the new Miss South Pacific have some hefty goals she aims to tackle during her reign, one of them is violence within the Pacific.
As far as she is concerned, violent clashes between nationalities with different cultural backgrounds in the Pacific is a serious problem.
She believes that western influence has really taken over the cultural values of the Pacific, and that Polynesians have distanced “ourselves away from our unique cultures” and have tried to adapt to foreign influences.
“I think that our people have so much pride it has turned people against their own kind, people have great pride in their culture and the uniqueness of their community that they have become territorial and this contributes largely to unnecessary violence within our communities.
“This has created a division within the Pacific and this is something I wish to conquer.”
The Tongan and now South Pacific beauty believes this is really sad as “we are all connected by sharing similar cultures and beliefs.”
Another issue she wishes to address is Global Warming. The situation is a serious matter but she feels that people are unaware of it and are taking it lightly.
One of the main areas of focus she believes is needed is for people to be educated to become more aware of how they could help to the environment themselves.
“Every individual could contribute in little ways to avoid much bigger and more hazardous disasters that could happen.
“By educating the people on the little things we could do will help change things that are yet to come”
She noted once again the importance of keeping to traditional values.
“I feel that modernization has had a great impact on the pacific and we really need to come back to our traditional ways of life.”
Teaching students more about cultural identity is another way of achieving the goal.
“What people need to understand is that change is always among us and we need to stand strong to be able to alter any change that could arise.”
While her goals over the next 12 months appears set, winning the crown ahead of the other contestants is yet to settle in properly.
“I didn’t expect anything because all the contestants were so strong in all their performances and no one was weaker than the other and I knew that it would be a very hard competition to place.
“I only wish that all the contestants could have received awards for their hard effort because we all put in our all and there never is a greater person in events such as this.”
Preparations for the Miss South Pacific began in July straight after the Miss Tonga Pageant, explains Toluta’u.
However, preparations were continuously on hold with her Internship in Arizona, where she was a Junior Auditor for an Airline Company called Mesa Air.
“Further preparations for me I guess started when I was in high school because of all the leadership skills I adapted whilst in high school as well as public speaking and so on.
“There have been so many contributions to my preparations for the Miss South Pacific and they have been just from my whole up bringing.”
She adds that another contribution was her brief appearances with a dancing group called the Promotional Team of the Polynesian Cultural centre; this is said to be the number one paid attraction in Hawaii.
“This really helped strengthen my dance skills and it really helped me become more wise and confident on stage.”
When asked what she feels the crown would mean to the people of Tonga after all the unrest that has occurred, she expressed that the crown is definitely something she believes the people of Tonga need.
“I hope this will bring hope for the future of Tonga, and I feel great being able to contribute in any way I can.
‘There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel,’ and this is the hope that I want to bring to my people.
“From all the riots that have been going around recently in Tonga people have kind of categorized the Tongan islands a troubled place with so many problems, and bringing the Miss South Pacific crown to the shores Tonga will hopefully otherwise.
“There’s no use in harboring all the negative vibes, we just have to move forward from here on.”
Miss South Pacific wishes to recommend the Pageant to other young aspiring girls. She cautioned however that beauty pageants are not all about beauty. “You have to know your true identity before entering such a pageant.”
Meaning you need to know your culture and the people you represent.
“I would definitely encourage all girls to participate in such an event because it’s an opportunity of a lifetime and it’s a chance to contribute to something larger than yourself and it’s a grand event that you will never forget.”
“The main highlight of such an event is the friendships you gain as well as meeting so many different people and learning a whole new world.
“It’s a great opportunity to be exposed to so many different cultures, and it has helped open my eyes.”
Sacrifices that the newly crowned Miss South Pacific would have to take is not only being away from family and friends, but also having to postpone her education plans, during her term of reign.
Miss South Pacific wishes to gain a Bachelor in Social Works with a minor in Psychology.
The new reigning beauty leaves today for Tonga but wish to thank the Government of Samoa for hosting this life changing event, she also wishes to thank the Samoan community for their tremendous support.
“Samoa is such a beautiful place, and the people are very courteous and friendly, Samoa is very family centered and that is something I will never forget.”
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