Pageant empowering women, official says

National
Source:
The National,Monday July 4th, 2016

The Miss PNG Pacific Islands Pageant is a vital event that provides young women an opportunity to become cultural ambassadors and raises funds to assists young women to complete or continue their education, pageant deputy chairperson Molly O’Rourke says.
This year’s pageant was launched in Port Moresby last Friday, with Linda Babao-O’Neill as the patron.
The event is now in its fifth year with the National Gaming Control Board as the official sponsor.
The Institute of Business Studies (IBS) became the first to back a contestant, 19-year-old student Samantha Kause.
“Sponsors like IBS have shown a true spirit of collaboration to empower our young women,” O’Rourke said.
“We believe that education is the key to success and prosperity of this country.
“We also believe strongly in empowering our young people through education, ultimately empowering a nation.”
She said the pageant raised more than K500,000 for its scholarship fund and assisted 152 girls to complete their education in the last five years.
O’Rourke acknowledged the past and present sponsors who contributed to that achievement.
Pageant committee member Euralia Paine said interested contestants could access the Miss PNG Pacific Islands page on Facebook and fill out an application form.
She said that the committee would try to secure sponsors but urged business organisations to provide sponsorship.
The pageant’s Project Runway will be held on July 30 in Port Moresby.
The crowning ceremony will be held on October 8 and the winner will represent PNG in the Pacific Islands Pageant in Samoa in December.