Miss South Pacific Plus Australia for Pacific women of all shapes, sizes [1]
Friday, August 16, 2019 - 18:54. Updated on Friday, August 16, 2019 - 18:56.
Five contestants of Pacific Island heritage, including Tongans are taking part in the 2019 Miss South Pacific Plus Australia (MSPPA) Beauty Pageant to be held in Sydney, on September 13.
The contestants are Mariana Taia (Cook Islands), Lateisha Afu (Tonga/Mauritian), Talaopatina Sio (Samoan/Niuen), Ofa Afu (Tongan/Aboriginal), and Asena Naleba (Fiji).
The organiser say the pageant is a platform for Pacific women to love and embrace their bodies regardless of size or shape. In addition, to installing in the contestants a thorough understanding of the pageant's domains of self love, self worth and self confidence.
Reigning MMSPPA is Tongan, Sulieti Nuku.
She has been working on a movement called Big Girl Tingss, which is a series of events and gatherings that create an environment and safe space for Pacific women of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds to come together and embrace themselves while uplifting and empowering each other.
“Although society and social media will argue differently and say that beauty is only a size 8-10 with blonde wavy hair and blue eyes. I strongly feel that being beautiful is being absolutely confident in your skin, scars and all,” she said.
“To truly love yourself and accept every bit of who you are, the exact way it is, is such a beautiful thing that to me, can outshine any Victoria Secret angel.”
Sulieti is also passionate in raising awareness on mental health.
“Mental health is a big big part of where I am today and why I’m so passionate about teaching our women to love themselves. I went through a horrible experience not long after I turned 18 where I found myself in a very dark place with some very dark thoughts that led to some dark actions I’m not very proud of."
I have gained so much more confidence after this pageant, not just on the physical sides of things but also in her work, she said.