13 things about Miss Universe Samoa 2024 Haylani Kuruppu

Haylani Pearl Mataupu Kuruppu won the 32nd edition of Miss Samoa. She represented Samoa in the 34th edition of Miss Pacific Islands, the 10th edition of Miss Global and the 73rd edition of Miss Universe.

BIOGRAPHY

Kuruppu is a Sri Lankan-Samoan social worker, author, fitness trainer and beauty queen based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was born in the Oceanian country to a Sri Lankan father and a Samoan mother.

In 2024, Kuruppu made history the first Samoan beauty queen to reach the Top 5 of an international beauty pageant with more than 60 candidates. She is the seventh beauty queen to represent Samoa in Miss Universe.

On February 27, 2025, Kuruppu turned 27. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. She attended Australian Catholic University in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and John Paul College in Daisy Hill, Queensland.
2. In 2018, she visited Sri Lanka.
3. As a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionary, she spent 18 months in Nagoya, Japan and Melbourne, Australia from 2020 to 2021.
4. She won Miss Samoa 2022.
5. She and Falefitu Tony Laulu co-wrote the book “Haylanni: The Journey to Miss Samoa“, which was illustrated by Tomasi Greentree and released in 2023.
6. She is Miss Pacific Islands Samoa 2023.
7. She was Miss Pacific Islands 2023 first runner-up.
8. She is Miss Global Samoa 2023.
9. She was Miss Global 2023 first runner-up.
10. In 2024, she visited Cambodia and Mexico.
11. She is Miss Universe Samoa 2024.
12. She was a Miss Universe 2024 candidate.
13. In 2025, she visited Thailand.

TIMELINE

Kuruppu is 5’8″ tall . Her father is from Colombo, Sri Lanka while her mother is from Apia, Samoa.

2010s

• In December 2018, she traveled to Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka.
• In November 2019, she walked the runway at the Pacific International Runway in Southbank, Victoria, Australia.

2020s

• In April 2020, she went to Nagoya to start her 18-month mission as an LDS Church missionary.
• In October 2021, her 18-month mission as an LDS Church missionary ended in Melbourne.
• On September 10, 2022, she represented Melbourne’s Samoan community at Miss Samoa 2022 and competed against seven other candidates at Gym 1 in Tuanaimato, Apia. She won the title.
• In November 2022, she walked for Samson Lee in a fashion show at the Taumeasina Island Resort in Apia.
• On February 3, 2023, she represented Samoa at Miss Pacific Islands 2023 at Gym 1 in Tuanaimato and competed against four other candidates. She was runner-up to Josie Nicholas of Papua New Guinea.
• On September 9, 2023, she went back to Gym 1 in Tuanaimato to crown her successor Miss Samoa 2023 Moemoana Schwenke.
• On June 3, 2023, her children’s book “Haylanni: The Journey to Miss Samoa” was launched.
• On January 18, 2024, she represented Samoa at Miss Global 2023 and competed against 68 other candidates at Bayon TV’s studio in Steung Meanchey, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She was runner-up to Ashley Melendez of Puerto Rico.
• On September 20, 2024, she was officially appointed Miss Universe Samoa 2024 and was crowned at the Orator Hotel in Apia.
• On November 16, 2024, she represented Samoa at Miss Universe 2024 and compete against 124 other candidates at the Arena Ciudad de México (Arena CDMX) in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico. She was unplaced.
• On March 9, 2025, she attended the Miss Global 2024 coronation ceremony on the 4th floor of The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan in Bang Khen, Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi, Thailand.