Aside from physical preparations as well as her talent in performing arts, Miss Samoa, Moemoana Safa'ato'a Schwenke returned to where the real inspiration is, home in Savaii to prepare for the Miss Pacific Islands pageant.

It is not about materialistic things but the culture, heritage, and treasures of Samoa that she hopes to promote, value, and maintain at the Miss Pacific Islands pageant at the end of the month.

Moemoana said part of her preparations was returning to the lands of Nafanua in Savaii where it all started and centre her focus on why she is doing this and her role as a Miss Samoa. 

"We went to Savaii and spent a lot of time just being grounded and practicing my talent on the same lands that the legends of Nafanua come from because again, I am carrying that Nafanua spirit into my preparations for the Pacific islands," she said.

"So we went to Tufutafoe with my dad and we spent a lot of time just practicing and trying to feel a sense of what Samoa is and I think it's very important that I did that, especially since I'm representing a whole nation.

"Preparations have also looked like going around to the local fashion houses and trying to highlight the creative excellence that exists here in Samoa.

"I know, a lot of the time we look externally for inspiration or influence but I think it's important for us to remember that the inspiration is also here on our island, and we have a lot of the resources that we need. 

"We have a big creative team that is doing a lot of work behind the scenes for me to prepare me not only for what I look like but also how I'm going to be perceived and how I'm going to carry Samoa."

Her preparations also focused on the concepts and the stories that she wanted to share as well as looking into the regional issues in the Pacific. 

She recently released a trailer highlighting the Samoan measina that is very unique in the Pacific including the siapo, va'a folau, Ietoga, and different measina that make Samoa unique.

Having worked at a museum overseas, Moemoana stressed that she came to appreciate what resources are that Samoan people make.

"So, while creative arts were strong in my life, there was another part of my Samoan I didn't see that I wanted to improve and I hope that by the end of my reign, you know I come out much better in aspects like that, Gagana Samoa," she explained.

"Another unique aspect just our people, the strength and resilience of our people when we face hardships and challenges it's because of the cultural values that get us through not only in the region but internationally."