Philma Kelegai

World Supermodel PNG made its debut entry into the international pageant this year.

Representing World Supermodel PNG franchise for the first time also, National Director Philma Kelegai, accompanying models Sheilla Yama and Glendah Sanadah, set foot on the international platform. And with that, PNG’s modelling industry made its appearance on a global stage.

It is a step where the industry will look back to, years from now.

The team of three returned to PNG yesterday, May 30, after a week in Macau, China, for the 10^th production of World Supermodel.

She was introduced to drumming at the age of 11 and was more of a tom-boy entering her teens.

“I hated make-up and usually call it shit,” she said.

Fast forward to now, she is a girl in love with modelling and drumming.

In fact, she has become the face of PNG’s first ever glamour calendar.

So what happened?

“My mum signed me for a workshop with World Supermodel PNG,” she said with a laugh.

This international franchise was introduced to the country last year and started recruiting models through its agency arm.

World Supermodel PNG will be launching two crowns for local pageant in the coming week.

National director and founder Philma Kelegai said the sponsor, Jules Collins will be revealing the crowns to the public on March 7.

This will also come with the unveiling of the pageant’s glamour calendar – also believed to be the first of its kind in PNG.

The calendar features each contestant of the two categories – Adult and Teen.

But, most of them reveal that prior to joining the World Supermodel PNG, they have always lacked confidence, particularly with public speaking.

The models have credited this positive change to Philma Kelegai, the national director and founder of World Supermodel PNG.

Kelegai is a woman with a vision.

She is co-founder for The Leniata Legacy, a group that advocates for gender equality in the workplace, leadership, politics, business, health, talent, and sport for Papua New Guinean women.

Its establishment only this year has provided two avenues for young women: World Supermodel (Ages 20 - 30) and Teen World Supermodel (Ages 16- 19).

World Supermodel PNG is grooming young females to enter the World Supermodel pageant, an international pageant which sees over 40 countries participating annually.

From Papua New Guinea, two young females selected will go to China to compete for the coveted top prize, which is a one year modelling contract with Trump Model Management to be based in New York, U.S.A.