When Haylani Pearl Kuruppu relinquished the Miss Samoa crown three Saturdays ago, she thought her life in pageantry was over and she was preparing for the next chapter.

However, on Wednesday this week, Vodafone Samoa announced that it has appointed her as the Samoan candidate to participate in the Miss Global pageant in Vietnam at the end of this year. 

Speaking during an exclusive interview with the Samoa Observer, minutes after the announcement was made, Ms. Kuruppu said the news seemed "surreal" to her. However, she said she is a true believer that "when an opportunity presents itself" one must make good use of it. 

With a heart and passion to serve her people and community, the former Miss Samoa 2022-2023 said she is excited and proud" to be representing her country to the world stage. 

"We will be taking 685 to the actual world now," said Ms. Kuruppu and giggled. "It is so surreal because I really thought I was done with pageantry after I relinquished the Miss Samoa crown. 

"I was preparing to represent Samoa in the Pacific Games because that was my next step. But then when I was given this opportunity by Vodafone to represent Samoa on the world stage, I just can't deny the grand opportunity."

The former Miss Samoa Melbourne 2022 was reluctant at first. However, she was convinced after a conversation with the reigning Miss Global, Shane Tormes who was in the country last week. 

"She was very encouraging and she told me about the amount of service that she has been able to do and the amount of travel, the lovely people she has met during her reign, the experience she has gained and how being Miss Global changed her life. 

"So I thought hard about this and it's something that you cannot deny. When you get opportunities, you take it up and make the most of it."

Ms. Kuruppu said that she is proud to have been given the opportunity to once again represent Samoa, its culture and tradition on the international stage.        

"I'm proud to take Samoa to the world stage, the world needs to hear about the best island in the world in the heart of the Pacific. For me, it really comes down to being an example for the future. 

"I'm so excited to do this because it's the first of many to come for the young girls in Samoa. Taking up this opportunity will prove that we are able to go beyond and represent our culture and heritage to the world. It's an encouragement for the young tama'ita'i Samoa living here and abroad. 

"For many years, pageantry in Samoa stops at the Pacific stage. It never gets further. It's always the Cook Islands that go further, it's only the New Caledonia that goes further why can't Samoa go further? 

"This opens doors for future girls and this is a great initiative from Vodafone Samoa for opening this opportunity for Samoan girls so we can show the world what Samoa is made of and to put our country's name on the map."

In terms of preparations, Ms. Kuruppu said Vodafone Samoa will be taking her to receive world-class training in Asia ahead of the pageant. 

"I was on the fence about it because the biggest concern for me was that there was no one with the experience and knowledge of how to train me for this international pageant because Samoa has never gone to the world stage. 

"However, Mr. Rana Bose of Vodafone Samoa said he is in contact with world-class coaches who have actually coached the Miss Universe and Miss World so he's actually got me to go to Asia to receive world-class training and that really helped with my confidence, that I will be in good hands. We're taking the 685 to the actual world now."

The reigning Miss Global 2022-2023, Ms. Shane Tormes immediately congratulated Ms. Kuruppu on Facebook after the announcement. 

"See you very soon Haylani Kuruppu and congratulations!" Ms. Tormes said in her social media reply. 

Vodafone Samoa announced Ms. Kuruppu's candidacy for the international pageant scheduled for November this year in a short press release issued to the local media on Wednesday afternoon.

"Vodafone Samoa is delighted to announce that Haylani Pearl Mataupu Kuruppu will be crowned as Miss Global Samoa 2023. She will join the 10th anniversary of the Miss Global 2023 Pageant in Vietnam from 11-25 November this year," reads the statement issued by Vodafone Samoa.

Ms. Kuruppu was crowned the Miss Samoa 2022, the Miss Melbourne 2022 and the First Runner-Up in Miss Pacific Islands 2023 and according to Vodafone Samoa is a social worker, a fitness trainer and an author. She is also studying physiotherapy at the Australian Catholic University.

According to Vodafone Samoa, it will arrange for a two-week overseas training for Haylani in Asia and she will be trained by "some of the best trainers in the world". 

The crowning will happen in Vodafone Samoa Headquarters in Apia and the date will be announced at a later stage.

"Vodafone wishes Haylani best wishes for the Miss Global 2023 Pageant," added the statement from the telecommunications company.