Nine local Samoan designers have been selected to participate in the Pacific Fashion Show 2024 in Las Vegas next year.

Virginia Toalepai, who is the President and Chief Executive Officer of World Wide Safety, told in a press conference on Tuesday that the festival in December this year will be of help in preparations for next year’s event.  

Ms. Toalepai confirmed that they have already received registration applications from designers and artists across the Pacific, including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, and also from the United States of America.

The festival is being organised by the Las Vegas Pacific Fashion Show (Samoa Division), which is an association made up of local designers, models, and artists who wish to have their work displayed in Las Vegas next year.

“This platform will help expose our people to the outside world and broaden their view on fashion and how much of an influence they could put out into the world,” Ms. Toalepai said.

In a message for emerging artists and designers in Samoa, the American businesswoman urged them to dream big and not let the "limitation of resources" become an obstacle to them in reaching their goals.

"Never let what you think you know be in the way of you getting the opportunities out there to learn and grow your business. You know, growing up, I never thought I would end up being successful and be in a position where I would be able to give back to my community and my home country.

"When I got to America, I was exposed to so many other things and saw the many opportunities there, things that I knew were not offered here on our island. I came back and saw little kids on the streets selling packets of chips for a living and I was moved. They have no idea how the children in America have free education and live off welfare with so many opportunities for them.

Ms. Toalepai said those interested in being part of the inaugural Pacific Fashion Show in Las Vegas in April next year will first have to register and be a member of the Samoa Division of the Association of the Las Vegas Pacific Fashion Show.

"We will be providing some resources and doing workshops leading up to the fashion show so we can help the designers, models, and make-up artists to expand their knowledge and understanding of how to run a successful business and make good use of the different platforms available," she said.