At 18 years of age, she was the youngest out of six contestants, and is only the second Papua New Guinean to be Miss Pacific Islands since MPIP PNG joined the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant franchise in 2011.
From a mixed parentage of Central and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Kariha has again created history by winning the Miss Pacific Island beauty contest.
Kariha also received Miss Tourism, Miss Personality, Best Topic Presentation/Interview and Best Talent awards, winning cash prizes as well as the crown.