Precious Miriama Tusega, a 26-year-old from Faleatiu, Tuanai, Sasina, and Satupaitea in Savaii is the newly crowned Miss Samoa New Zealand 2024-2025.

She will be taking over the crown and responsibilities from Cherish Faamanu Manaia and will be competing in this year's pageant for the Miss Samoa crown.

Held at the Auckland West Church Unlimited, the new Miss Samoa New Zealand showcased an obvious victory after claiming two of the most important main awards of the evening, the Best Interview Award and the Talent Award.

She is a full-time student at the Auckland University of Technology (A.U.T.) undertaking a Conjoined Degree in Bachelor of Law and Arts and she was the contestant number seven.

Answering her selected question; Samoa's tourism industry accounts for 25 per cent of the country's GDP. If you were given a budget to market Samoa, who would be your target demographic and why?

Answering with much confidence highlighting her love for Samoa and the people, Precious highlighted the need for the diaspora to return home and strengthen their identity as it is truly that can attract people to Samoa.

"I understand that tourism is very important to our country, especially for its' economy and you might be thinking I'll go for the money because they have the money, but to be honest the demographic that I would love to market in terms of marketing our beautiful paradise would definitely be people in this room," she said.

"The diaspora, our young adults who are living away from home to go back home. I believe that marketing for them will strengthen their identity and their culture when they visit home.

"Oftentimes they want to visit other extravagant places and I believe that Samoa and this is from my own experience. I love going back to Samoa and I one hundred percent believe that if we take our young adults back, they will find the strength in their identity and they will bring that strength back to the diaspora and they will strengthen our culture all around the world and when people see that, they will want to go to Samoa because I believe that even though we have beaches just like every other island, the people is what makes the holiday an experience.

"So let's keep shining and keep spreading that love, that alofa, those values that bring people back and back again."

The special awards were won by: Friendship Award: Maruseana Olivia Sititi and Tava Landaesha Tyrell; Miss Photogenic Award: Konestasia Pauga; Miss Personality Award: Daisy Mika Frost; People's Choice Award: Stephanie Mary Ah Lin.

Judged Category: Best Introduction Award: Stephanie Mary Ah Lin; Best Siva Samoa Award: Konesitasia Pauga; Best Interview & Best Talent: Precious Miriama Tusega.

As her reign as the Miss Samoa New Zealand comes to a close, Ms. Manaia recalled her journey and acknowledged everyone who had been the driving force for her success over the past year.

"I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Samoan community here in New Zealand, especially to my Samoan community in Christchurch for supporting me throughout my journey," she said.

"Your encouragement, love, and belief in me had been the driving force behind every step of my journey. To our boss lady, Director, Seumanu Seeva Matafai, I want to express my appreciation for believing in the potential of a young tamaitai Samoa with the platform to showcase their talents and cultural pride."

Meanwhile, the crowd was up on their feet throughout the night with a packed venue as they cheered on the eight Miss Samoa New Zealand contestants.