Samoa’s Prime Minister has given her blessings and words of encouragement to the 10 Miss Samoa pageant contestants with only one night left before the new crown holder is announced. 

The contestants had the rare opportunity to sit and chat with Samoa’s first female Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa over breakfast on Thursday morning as part of an informal dialogue.

The young women were able to ask Fiame questions about her journey to becoming the first female Prime Minister of Samoa and how she has got to walk on a much bigger stage.

This informal setting of the breakfast ensured there was an air of camaraderie which led to a question-and-answer session between the young women and Fiame. 

They were able to inquire about how Fiame was able to follow in the footsteps of her late father, Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II, the first Prime Minister of Samoa, who left a legacy that his daughter has now made her own.

The young Miss Samoa contestants admired Fiame’s story and were able to get advice on how they themselves would take on the legacy of the Miss Samoa crown. 

Later in the day, the girls participated in their pre-pageant interview before a panel of judges. 

Each contestant stood bravely before the judges and audience presenting their speeches on topics such as education, gender equality, women empowerment, and climate change to name a few. 

Miss Samoa Association of Sign Language Interpreters, Miracle Afele delivered a very heartfelt speech using sign language, which moved many in the audience to tears about her struggles as a person with a disability and overcoming barriers.

On her topic "equity for social development", the contestant talked about equal access to opportunities in the context of improved social development.

“I want us to stop for a moment and think about the many different segments of our communities where we all hold similar aspirations but recognise different approaches," said Ms. Afele through an interpreter. "Resources are required to support different groups in different ways and this is the concept of equity in practice.

“It’s about building connections not just with people with disabilities because it is very hard to communicate, but it doesn’t matter if it is hard to communicate, we can build that through working together. 

“I know and understand that it is very difficult. Just because I have a disability doesn’t mean that I am not the same as everyone else, it doesn’t matter.

"There are barriers but I can break those barriers. A long time ago it used to be a problem but I am strong and I will be able to teach others to be aware. It has never been a barrier for me to communicate, I understand the difficulties communicating with a deaf person but we can’t keep staying where we are comfortable. 

"We have got to make people aware and make them do the work that will provide them with the opportunity to do their own thing, even a pageant like this one.”