Photos by Pesi Fonua and Linny Folau

Wearing colourful knotted sarongs for a swimwear event and delighting a large crowd with their talent performances, ten Miss Heilala contestants took part in the pageant’s final competitions at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall last night, July 7.

The talent performances included dancing, hula, singing, and showcasing careers such as being a flight attendant with passengers, and a singing nurse - "Florence Nightingale" complete with a bloodied patient. There was also a "Chinese music conductor". One contestant performed the war dance kailao, wearing a male dancer's costume and swinging a war club, much to the crowd's delight.

The MC announced the sarong event as a swimsuit event but because it's Tonga "we have lavalava".

The contestants using the same length of cloth are supposed to tie it into knots to create their swim outfit. The idea is that the skill is in the knot tying, however, on most of the girls the saggy tupenu were not at all flattering to their figures, but they did their best to pose attractively. The sarongs might have looked better, perhaps, draped around supportive modern swimsuits. Miss Lady Maria used comedy swimingly to complete her sarong with snorkel, mask and flippers, and captured the hearts of the crowd with her fishing net routine. 

The top five in each of the two categories, in alphabetical order are: 

Sarong

• Miss Appraxus New Zealand, 'Ana Falala
• Miss Bou's Fashion, Vika Toetu'u
• Miss Five Star Finances, 'Ofa Hui
• Miss Loumaile Lodge, Laura Lauti
• Miss Tongatapu 2, Sosefina Fatai Leger

Talent

• Miss Bou's Fashion, Vika Toetu'u
• Miss Havelu Rugby, Polonia Hoko
• Miss Loumaile Lodge, Laura Lauti
• Miss Tongatapu 2, Sosefina Fatai Leger
• Miss Tourism Tonga, Michelle Motuliki

The winners will be announced tonight, Friday 8 July at the crowning of the Miss Heilala during a ball.

(Our report of  last night's Creation Island event to follow in separate article).