Cooks Islands again takes the crown

Nina Ratulele
What would a pageant in Samoa these days be without a touch of controversy, it seems? The Miss South Pacific contest at the country’s spectacular new Chinese-built national aquatic centre was no exception.

All began well. Miss Cook Islands Krystina Kauvai, a 19-year-old accounts and administration officer and part-time University of the South Pacific student, was crowned Miss South Pacific.

She succeeded fellow Cook Islander, Dorothea George.

Miss Samoa Poinsettia Taefu, a 21-year-old tourism officer and part-time National University of Samoa student, was first runner-up.

Television coverage showed Kauvai a poised and polished entrant. She appeared overall to be the pick of the contestants from seven countries and territories.

Kauvai brought to her participation a strong belief in her church and culture.

On the official pageant website, she said: “I am passionate about Cook Islands’ cultural dancing and singing.

“My personal goal is to keep educating myself and to live a fulfilling life making the most of life’s opportunities, but most of all try to share with the world My Heavenly Fathers Blessings.”

Back in the Cook Islands, there was no doubt she was a deserved and popular winner.

But in Samoa the national Miss Teuila contest to select Miss Samoa earlier in the year had been marred by a drawn-out controversy. Local rumours were not long surfacing about the Miss South Pacific pageant too.

Especially with Miss Samoa having taken three of the eight category awards and turned in, according to the monitoring of television coverage, a classy performance as well.

Taefu had also stressed her belief in church and culture. “My faith in God and the love of my family and friends keep me strong and striving through life,” she said on the official website.

The rumours circulating in Samoa, according to reports from there, claimed a disagreement involving judges from Samoa and the Cook Islands. They were part of a five-person international judging panel.

The rumours claimed they both backed the participants from their own country. The three other judges had to make the decision, reports in the Samoan news media said.

What really happened apparently was with the contest down to a decision between Miss Cook Islands and Miss Samoa, the Cook Islands judge volunteered to step aside. This was in the interest of fairness.

The Cook Islands judge was a well-known journalist and Pitt Media Group director Shona Pitt. She has headed national television services in both Cook Islands and Niue.

The Samoan judge, Dr Viopapa Annandale, followed in stepping aside from the final vote, it is understood.

Dr Annandale is president of the Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association (PPSEAWA).

It is believed the three other judges from Fiji, Australia and New Zealand then made the final decision and Kauvai won.

However, Annandale, who is prominent in promoting women’s issues, is said to have become concerned. It is understood her concern was over the final decision having been made by three male judges. Comments she made are understood to have been picked up by people nearby.

That, according to reports from Samoa, is when the rumours began.

However, Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Misa Telefoni quickly moved to end them, the Samoa Observer newspaper reported.

Misa, the chair of the pageant board, produced written comments by two prominent Samoan Certified Public Accountants who were scrutineers of the judging.

The Samoa Observer newspaper reported the scrutineers reassured Misa that “the integrity of the results remains unscathed”.

“I have never received any communication from any of the pageant judges concerning any issue pertaining to their judging of the pageant,” Misa was quoted by the Samoa Observer as saying.

“I enclose an inquiry I forwarded to the pageant scrutineers, senior Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) Magele Afa Penn and Maryann Lameko on this issue.

“Their responses are also included, they confirm the integrity and truth of the results.

“In these circumstances, I am not prepared to dignify any rumours‚ that may be circulating, concerning the judging of the pageant.

“There will be no other releases on this subject.”

Samoa came to the rescue and hosted this year’s pageant at short notice after the scheduled host, New Caledonia, withdrew. Next year’s pageant will be held in Samoa.

Cook Islands will be going for three wins in a row. Samoa will be trying to overcome its very narrow loss this year. Who wants to be a judge?