This year's Miss Samoa contestants have linked up with their districts in a bid to bring the platform down to the community so they are aware of the issues facing the people.

The Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development C.E.O. Dr. Mema Motusaga thanked the 10 districts that made themselves available to receive each one of the contestants.

She said the interaction between the districts and each one of the contestants on Monday was an opportunity for them to find out more about the issues affecting villages and their districts, though due to time constraints, they couldn't bring in districts in Savai'i to participate. 

“Today’s engagement was really an opportunity for the girls just to see what’s happening because at times when we talk about the Ministry of Women, we focus only on what’s happening in town, at the regional level and the global level and tend to forget the totality of the work happening in our villages and districts,” said Dr. Motusaga. “The whole idea of today’s program [on Monday] was to get them out there. 

"We identified their districts based on their villages. A lot of the girls had connections to Savai'i but because of time, we weren’t able to do that. 

We are grateful for the support of our 10 districts who have put up their hands, responding to the Ministry's call for help.”

Going forward, districts in Savai'i will also be included in the program for the next Miss Samoa pageant in 2024. 

Dr. Motusaga also added that the essence of the Miss Samoa Platform is as an advocacy tool – while being a platform to nurture the young Tamaitai Samoa into who they are, their values, as well as their roles and responsibilities.

“It is an educational platform where they create a lot of learning amongst themselves. The beauty pageant wasn’t about the beauty and the looks, it was about the inner qualities of the Tamaitai Samoa.

“This was so that the young women can learn and explore what our issues are, our success and initiate interventions that they can do for our people.”

Throughout the program of the pageant's mentoring and the coaching phase, ONOMEA Productions reached out to the Ministry to become partners and support them throughout the pageant. The Ministry is one of the country's leading advocates for women's empowerment.

A special ava ceremony was held for the Miss Samoa contestants to conclude their community engagement activities.

Contestants                                                                  Districts

1. Tashana Lee Opelu                            Sagaga No. 2
2. Moeloto Vitolia Tuilaepa Tiatia         Sagaga No. 1
3. Helen Vera Isitolo Lemisio                 Sagaga No. 4
4. Miracle Afele                                      Faleata No. 2
5. Cherish Faamanu Manaia                 Vaimauga No. 2
6. Vaelei Von Dinklage                          Anoamaa No. 2
7. Siliva Siaea                                        Aiga i le Tai
8. Nicolina June Ah Kuoi                       Falelatai and Samatau
9. Moemoana Safaatoa Schwenke      Lefaga and Faleaseela
10. Karameli Serah Purcell                      Safata No. 2