Beauties arrive for Miss South Pacific quest

By ILA PAILAEA

TEN of the 11 contestants for the 2010 Miss South Pacific pageant contest in Port Moresby have arrived in the country, The National reports.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop joining contestants from around the South Pacific, including New Zealand, in Port Moresby for this year’s Miss South Pacific title quest during dinner yesterday evening. Rachel Sapery James (fifth from left) is representing Papua New Guinea. – Nationalpic by AURI EVA

Twenty-three-year-old Miss Hawaii Pomaikai Klein is expected to fly in today for the week-long event.

Papua New Guinea will be represented by Miss PNG 2010 Rachel Sapery James. The other contestants are Miss Niue Island Maria Mitimeti; Miss Tonga Mafi Tuinukuafe; Miss Solomon Islands Fuatino Malasa; Miss Tokelau Meleka Mativa; Miss Samoa Jolivette Menime Ete; Miss Cook Islands Joyana Meyer; Miss Fiji Sera Tikotikoivatu; Miss American Samoa Cindy Fonofili Silao; and Miss Aotearoa New Zealand Angela Cudd.

Yesterday was a quiet day for the contestants with only two public appearances; the first at Lamana Hotel and during dinner at the Royal Papua Yacht Club.

The contestants and their chaperones will leave for Alotau, Milne Bay, today and return tomorrow to continue on with the pageant programme.

The crowning is scheduled for Saturday evening at the Sir John Guise indoor complex.

During a briefing with the media yesterday afternoon, many of the contestants spoke about the “beauty and friendly welcome” which made them felt at home.

Miss Tonga Mafi Tuinukuafe, perhaps, summed up most of their feelings: “I felt surprised by every minute of it. The different people, cultures are a world in one.

“PNG is rich, not only in its natural resources but also in the cultures you have.”