Photos by Linny Folau

Rosemarie Fili 

University of Waikato student, Rosemarie Fili (22) was crowned as Tonga's new Miss Heilala 2013-14 last night July 5, during a ball at the Heilala Village, Vuna Wharf at the Nuku'alofa waterfront.

Rosmarie entered the Pageant as Miss Appraxus Immigration NZ/ A student in Hamilton, New Zealand, Rosemarie is currently studying for a post-graduate degree in Social Science with Honours at the University of Waikato. She is from Leimatu’a, Vava’u and Hala’ovave in Tongatapu.

Miss Heilala's prizes included $3,000 pa’anga and return tickets for two to Los Angeles, as well as other cash prizes for winning the sarong, island creation, talent and pre-pageant interview competitions.

Runners up

From left,  Lita Mary Bloomfield, Rosemarie Fili and Angelique Iviiti. Nuku'alofa, Tonga 5 July 2013.

The first runner up was Miss Victoria-Australia Angelique Iviiti, who took home $2,000 cash prize and return tickets for two to Honolulu.

The second runner up was Miss NZ Friendly Island Body Builders Association and THS Ex-Students Lita Mary Bloomfield with $1,500 cash prize and two return tickets to Sydney.

The third runner up was Miss Lady Maria Australia Helen Talipeau with $1,000 cash prize and two return tickets to Nadi, Fiji.

Special hospitality cash prizes totalling at $7,000 pa’anga were also announced for the seven contestants each receiving $1,000 sponsored by the Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano and the Government of Tonga, the Tonga Tourist Association President Saia Moehau with Heilala Festival Director Semisi Sika. The air tickets were sponsored by Fiji Airways (formerly Air Pacific).

Lady Robyn Tu’ivakano and the outgoing Miss Heilala 2012 Ebony Nuku awarded the prizes last night.