Voting for Miss Pacific Islands pageant in Tonga opens online

This year’s Miss Pacific Islands pageant in Tonga is well underway with online voting now open.
The contestant with the most votes will be crowned Miss Internet on Friday night.
Miss Pacific Islands PNG Pageant Leoshina Kariha is vying for the crown among five other contestants from Cook Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, American Samoa, and Tonga.
The current Miss Pacific Islands is Matauaina Toomalatai from America Samoa.
In the online voting supporters can go to the Miss Pacific Islands Facebook Page and ‘like’ the photo of the contestant of their choice. Kariha is Contestant Number 4.
Chairperson of Miss Pacific Islands Pageant PNG Committee, Molly O’Rourke said, in the last couple of years, Nauru with a small population has won the Miss Internet title.
“It would be wonderful for more of our people to support our girl as she is flying the PNG flag proudly,” she said.
In the outfit shown in the photo (above) Kariha is wearing a dress that is an original Sepik Mask artwork print by Nanias Maria, and sewn by Miriam XKenjik. Kariha’s hair piece was a Tongan supporter of Miss PNG.
The official programme began on Saturday (Nov 24) with the Contestants Orientation. The contestants picked their order of appearance as well as their pre pageant interview topics.
Kariha will speak on empowerment of women. Topic presentation is the first judging category. Other judging categories are sarong wear, talent and traditionally inspired dress.
A luncheon, organised in honour of the six contestants, graced by Queen Nanasipau’u and a meeting with King Tupou VI have also been the highlights so far.