Hannah’s pageant dream comes true

**Hannah Tabara after her graduation at the University of Papua New Guinea last month. – Picture Supplied.**

By LORRAINE JIMAL
HANNAH Tabara an entrant in this year’s Miss Pacific Islands pageant Papua New Guinea (MPIP) says that MPIP is about preserving your culture and being true to yourself.
Hannah who is known as Miss Italpreziosi South Pacific said she had always dreamed of being part of the pageant.
Hannah recalled her childhood days where she eagerly followed the pageant on television and pasted pictures of the reigning Queen on her bedroom wall.
Hannah said she had always dreamed of being crowned Queen of the pageant.
However, Hannah, 25 from a mixed parentage of Solomon Islands and Northern, said the pageant was not all about the fame and glamour.
“I join the platform because I want to empower women and see that my country reaches its full potential,” Hannah said.
“Joining this platform gives me a great joy because growing up I see that there is so much inequalities in our society and I want to be that person to support the women’s empowerment,”
Hannah said MPIP has taught her many life skills such as public speaking.
“One of my biggest challenge is I was away from my family to do this thing because they are my family and I will have confidence if they are here to witness me contesting.”
But Hannah said she managed to excel through her mentors, friends and family.
Hannah attended Kimininga Elementary School in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands before going to Hagen United Primary School and continue her grade three to grade eight and later to Hagen Park Secondary School.
In 2017 she was accepted to the University of Papua New Guinea’s (UPNG) Bachelor of Art’s degree.
She studied a double major in art/design combined with anthropology and sociology. She graduated from UPNG in April.
Hannah said she was persuaded by her father’s best friend to study anthropology because he was also an anthropologist.

“ I joined the platform because I want to empower women and see that my country reaches its full potential.”

**Hannah Tabara formally known as Miss Italpreziosi South Pacific during the launching of the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant Papua New Guinea in February. – Natioalpic by LORRAINE JIMAL.**

Hannah recalled a time where her dad’s friend asked her what she wanted to become in the future.
“I want to be an airhostess and he told me that is a good job but you will be a maid always working for someone, I said okay than I will be a pilot but he replied it’s good too but it is just like another taxi driver in the air again.”
Hannah said her passions for PNG culture and her talent in drawing made her study anthropology.
Her dad Barnabas Tabara is from Northern and mother Rose Tabara is from the Malaita Province in Solomon Island. She is the last born in her family.
She was born and raised in Mt Hagen’s Western Highlands. She has an elder sister and a brother who are employed.
Hannah said she plans to travel around all the provinces in PNG in the next five years to learn the different cultural beliefs and write a book about it.
But she said Mt Hagen will always be her home.