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Miss Samoa

Formation	1986
Type	Beauty Pageant
Headquarters	Apia
Location	Samoa
Membership	Miss Pacific Islands
Official language	English Samoan

Miss Samoa is the nationalbeauty pageant ofSamoa, established in 1986. The competition is overseen by theSamoa Tourism Authority (formerly the Samoa Visitors Bureau) and is held annually as part of theTeuila Festival, one of Samoa’s largest cultural events. The winner serves as a cultural ambassador for Samoa, promoting the country both regionally and internationally throughout her reign, and traditionally goes on to compete in theMiss Pacific Islands pageant.^[1]

The Miss Samoa pageant was established and administered by the Samoa Visitors Association in late 1986 and handed over to the Samoa Visitors Bureau in 1996. The pageant was created in conjunction with tourism and has remained under its authority ever since. In 1987 the first Miss Samoa was crowned she was Ursula Elizabeth Curry who went on to represent Samoa in the first ever Miss South Pacific Pageant (name changed 2015 toMiss Pacific Islands). As years followed the winner of Miss Samoa under the guidance of the Samoan Tourism Authority went on to compete in the Miss South Pacific Pageant. In 1996 Verona Ah Ching made history being the first Miss Samoa to ever be crowned Miss South Pacific.

The Miss Samoa Pageant is an annual event dedicated to supporting opportunities for young Samoan women. The winner of pageant is given the opportunity to promote Samoa regionally and internationally as the face of Samoa and work as a national ambassador during her year reign, as of 2000 the Miss Samoa Pageant has been the finale of the annual Teuila Festival. In 2018 it was announced for the first time in the 32-year history of the pageant it will be held and hosted in the big island of Savai’i later that year Sonia Piva was crowned Miss Samoa 2018 making history being the first and only winner to be crowned in Savai’i.

In a history making decision by Samoa Tourism Authority the owners of the Miss Samoa Pageant, it was announced that there will be no the Miss Samoa Pageant for the year of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic months before the scheduled Miss Samoa 2020 pageant in September.

The Miss Samoa Pageant provides opportunities for young Samoan women to serve as national representatives. The titleholder works with the Samoa Tourism Authority to promote Samoan culture, heritage, and tourism at both local and international levels.

Before 1997 Samoa named Western Samoa and debuted at Miss World in 1977, Miss Universe in 1981, and Miss Pacific Islands in 1993 (or previously, Miss South Pacific).

On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.

Winner of Miss Samoa Regional Pageant from outside of Samoa such as Miss Samoa New Zealand, Miss Samoa Australia, Miss Samoa Victoria, Miss Samoa New South Wales and Miss Samoa USA.

Color keys

Color keys

List of Samoan women who have represented Samoa during International and Regional Pageants.

Color keys

• missuniversesamoa.com

• Miss Universe by country
• Miss World by country
• Recurring events established in 1977

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