12 Miss Pacific Islands 2019 candidates competing in Port Moresby

Leoshina Mercy Kariha represented Papua New Guinea at Miss Pacific Islands 2018 and competed against five other candidates at the Atele Indoor Stadium in Nuku’alofa, Tonga on November 30, 2018. She won the title.

Runner-up to Kariha was Lydia Simonis of the Cook Islands. Sonia Piva of Samoa was the second runner-up and Emeli Pelesa Panapa of Tuvalu was the third runner-up.

Miss Pacific Islands 2019 contestants

On November 30, 2019, Kariha will crown her successor at The Stanley Hotel and Suites in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It is the 33rd edition of the regional beauty pageant held in the Pacific Islands.

Twelve women are competing for the Miss Pacific Islands 2019 crown. Here are the candidates:

1. Epifania Petelo, 20, American Samoa
2. Terito-o-Ngakura Story, 19, Cook Islands
3. Jessica Fong, 24, Fiji
4. Billma Peter, 25, Marshall Islands
5. Millenia Edibea Finch, 19, Nauru
6. Lucy Maino, 24, Papua New Guinea
7. Fonoifafo Nancy McFarland-Seumanu, 24, Samoa
8. Gladys Habu, 24, Solomon Islands
9. Herevai Hoata, 22, Tahiti
10. Yehenara Soukop, 20, Tonga
11. Tapua Pasuna, 25, Tuvalu
12. Violene Blondel, 18, Wallis et Futuna

Miss South Pacific and Miss Pacific Islands titleholders

In 1987, the government of Samoa founded Miss South Pacific, which was renamed Miss Pacific Islands in 2014. Here are the titleholders:

Miss South Pacific

• 1987: Juliette Caroline Spencer (American Samoa)
• 1988: Theresa Purcell (Samoa and Hawaii)
• 1989: Retire Chevaux (Tahiti)
• 1990: Henari Arauva’a (Tahiti)
• 1991: Kimiora Vogel (Cook Islands)
• 1992: Julia Toevai (Samoa and New Zealand)
• 1993: Leilua Stevenson (American Samoa)
• 1994: Tarita Brown (Cook Islands)
• 1995: Ma’ata Mo’ungaloa (Tonga)
• 1996: Verona Ah Ching (Samoa)
• 1997: MaryJane Moe McKibbin (Samoa)
• 1998: Cheri Moana Robinson (Samoa)
• 1999: Liana Scott (Cook Islands)
• 2000: Helen Afatasi Burke (American Samoa)
• 2001: Manamea Apelu (Samoa)
• 2002: Lupe Ane Kenape Aumavae (American Samoa)
• 2003: Janice Nicholas (Cook Islands)
• 2004: Sinahemana Hekau (Niue)
• 2005: Dorothea George (Cook Islands)
• 2006: Krystina Kauvai (Cook Islands)
• 2007: Tessi Leila Toluta’u (Tonga)
• 2008: Vanessa Marsh (Niue)
• 2009: Merewalesi Nailatikau (Fiji)
• 2010: Joyanna Mennie Meyer (Cook Islands)
• 2011: Alisi Rabukawaqa (Fiji)
• 2012: Janine Nicky Tuivaiti (Samoa)
• 2013: Teuira Napa (Cook Islands)

Miss Pacific Islands

• 2014: Latafale Auva’a (Samoa)
• 2015: Abigail Havora (Papua New Guinea)
• 2016: Anne Dunne (Fiji)
• 2017: Matauaina Gwendolyn To’omalatai (American Samoa)
• 2018: Leoshina Mercy Kariha (Papua New Guinea)