The Miss PNG pageant brings out the best in young women, says the reigning Miss PNG and crowned Pacific Island Queen, Abigail Havora.
“Too many times, we keep ourselves in our shell, pageants like this bring out the best in us.”
She speaks from experience, saying that she has grown with the pageant.
Three young women, Rose Lakoro Pitoi, Dorothy Elliott and Hane Kokoha also want to take this path.
They have expressed interest in entering the pageant but haven't secured a sponsor to do so yet.
“I’m interested. I haven’t tried out in a pageant before but I’d like to give it a shot and if they can secure a sponsor for me, that would be really great,” says Rose.
She is currently a preschool teacher at World Changes Christian School at Six-Mile, Port Moresby.
Representing PNG is not a new thing to her though. Rose had won a speech competition and represented PNG and the Pacific Islands to speak in Istanbul, a city in Turkey.
“That was a highlight for me and I think I have a bit more to offer PNG in that area,” she says.
Echoing the thoughts of her two other fellow interested contestants, Rose says her wish to join the pageant is to be in a better position to help other women, especially young women in the country.
“That’s been one of my passion to try and bring up the level of women and gender equality and fight violence against women.”
Reigning queen Havora, during the official launch of the pageant last week, wished them well.
“To our three potential contestants, I hope this launch sort of gets you in the boat with us because this pageant, it is not only about being a cultural ambassador and offers scholarship funds but it also helps us young women of PNG to really bring ourselves out.”
Meanwhile, the Miss Pacific Island Pageant PNG committee says the pageant is open to young women and sponsoring companies nationwide.
(The three young women who are interested in taking part: Rose Lakoro Pitoi, Dorothy Elliott and Hane Kokoha.)
