Kingdom Of Tonga hosts 2018 Miss Pacific Islands

Nukuʻalofa, TONGA —  It’s been a busy week for the six beauties who are vying for the coveted Miss Pacific Islands 2018-2019 crown.

The highly anticipated pageant, being hosted in the Kingdom of Tonga, is a two-day event that kicked off yesterday morning with the pre-pageant interviews. The six contestants made their first official stage appearance last night at 8 p.m. (Tonga Time).

The order of appearance - and their platforms - is as follows:

1. Miss American Samoa Magalita Philomena Johnson - Politics
   2. Miss Tuvalu Emelipelesa Panapa - Environment 
    3. Miss Cook Islands Lydia Simonis - Education 
          4. Miss Papua New Guinea Leishina Mercy Kariha - Empowerment of Women 
    5. Miss Samoa Sonia Piva - Culture 
        6. Miss Tonga Kalolaine Talia Fanganitau - Health

The pageant concludes tonight with the crowning of a new Miss Pacific Islands. American Samoa's very own Matau'aina Gwendolyn To'omalatai is the reigning title holder and she will relinquish the crown tonight, which is also the deadline to vote online for your favorite contestant to win the Miss Internet category.

(Pictured l-r) Miss Tonga, Miss Samoa, Miss Papua New Guinea, Miss Pacific Islands 2017-2018 Matau'aina Gwendolyn To'omalatai, Miss Cook Islands, Miss Tuvalu, and MIss American Samoa.

This past Sunday, the contestants attended a church service at the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, the same church the King, Queen, and members of the royal family attend. Afterwards, the ladies were invited to a special luncheon at the Palace with the King and Queen, while their chaperones had lunch at the Likualofa Resort.

Good luck to all the contestants.