Moemoana Schwenke biography: 13 things about Miss Pacific Islands 2024

Moemoana Safa’ato’a Schwenke is a Samoan climate activist, creative and performing arts practitioner, siva afi (fire-knife dancing) performer, cultural arts teacher and beauty queen based in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. She is an alumna of the University of Wollongong in Wollongong and a member of the 350 Pacific Climate Warriors.

Schwenke grew up in Samoa, Australia and New Zealand. She was born in Samoa to Frederick Schwenke and Maryjane Moe McKibbin Schwenke.

Frederick and Maryjane run Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts in Lurnea, New South Wales. She is Miss Samoa Australia 1997, Miss Samoa 1997 and Miss South Pacific 1997.

Moemoana was 23 years old when she was crowned Miss Pacific Islands 2024 on February 3, 2024. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. In 2013, as a Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts member, she performed siva and dances from around the Pacific.
2. In 2014, she started performing siva afi. In the same year, she started her advocacy as a climate warrior after seeing the effects of climate change to Samoa.
3. In August 2017, she visited Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
4. In May 2018, she was in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.
5. From 2019 to 2023, she attended the University of Wollongong where she earned her bachelor’s degree in indigenous studies and environmental humanities.
6. In 2019, she was first runner-up to Jeralee Galeai in the women’s division of the World Fire-Knife Championships at the Polynesian Cultural Centre in Laie, Hawaii.
7. She delivered a speech about climate change during the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which was held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference (SEC) Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom from October 31, 2021 to November 13, 2021.
8. In February 2022, she joined Australian Museum as a pacific consultation officer.
9. In March 2022, she received the Wollongong Local Woman of the Year Award.
10. In April 2022, “Motu of Western Sydney” marked her theater production debut in Sydney, New South Wales.
11. On September 9, 2023, she was crowned Miss Samoa 2023 at Gym 1 in Tuanaimato, Apia, Samoa.
12. She attended the 2023 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from November 30, 2023 to December 12, 2023.
13. On February 3, 2024, she represented Samoa at Miss Pacific Islands 2024 and competed against six other candidates at the Sports Complex in Yaren, Nauru. She won the title.