Miss Island Queen Pageant

Miss Island Queen is a fa'afafine pageant held annually in American Samoa. It is noted for being the longest standing pageant of its kind in the South Pacific. It was first held in 1979 before undergoing a series of changes. No pageant was held in 1980 and 1982 as it endured shifts in ownership. It was canceled in 1986 due to a tropical cyclone and ceased again in 1999 and 2002 when it struggled with funding. In 1996 It was held simultaneously on the same evening as another fa'afafine pageant Empress of Samoa. In 2008 the pageant coincided with the Festival of Pacific Arts and became the closing event of festivities. After undergoing extensive reestablishment in 2010 the pageant has since been held during Flag Day week and broadcast live on KVZK-2. It is now known as Miss SOFIAS and maintains yearly advocacy and charity programs.

Miss S.O.F.I.A.S
Formation1979
TypeBeauty Pageant
Location
Websitehttp://assofias.webs.com/

History

The pageant began as a marketing show for Herb & Sia's motel a family owned business, in its heyday it was a staple for Polynesian revues and local musicians. A gathering of fa'afafines shepherd by educators Leroy Lutu and Vena Sele led to pioneering the first fully organized beauty pageant in 1981. It came to prominence in the late 1980s when organizers incorporated educational awareness, community service and charitable causes in both American Samoa and neighboring Apia, Samoa. Governor A. P. Lutali was the first territorial leader to officially support the pageant in 1987 in years that followed numerous local dignitaries and politicians became fixtures at the event. The pageant was hugely successful by 1990 it spawned a fa'afafine performance troupe. The troupe entertained across the islands at public ceremonies and private events popularizing a streak of song and dance routines among them the apartheid anthem Gimme Hope Jo'anna, music from the soundtrack of Sarafina! and Samba in the night by Daniel Rae Costello many selections were opening themes of past island queen pageants.[1][2] Power struggles corrupted the pageant in the mid-1990s resulting in the exploitation of fa'afafines in countless beauty pageants publicized for financial gain.[3] Vena Sele and Leroy Lutu harbored creative differences and parted ways. Lutu went on to establish "Empresses of Samoa" and "Mizz Corona" pageants and Sele continued with Island Queens before leading "Miss American Sevens". American Sevens was originally operated under a netball association but at the height of its success became known as Seven Islands of American Samoa.

In the 2000s Miss American Sevens and Miss Island Queens pageants dominated the territory.[4] In 2010 American Sevens and Island Queens communally retired uniting to become S.O.F.I.A.S (Society of Fa’afafine in American Samoa). Organizers also preserved history honoring past winners under its retooled name. Three distinctive awards were awarded during the history of both pageants. In 2000 high chief Tiumalu Sia Scanlan was presented with a special award, in 2006 longtime serving member Rosie Moimoi was recognized by Island Queens and in 2005 founder Vena Sele was honored by the American Sevens for her legacy and service to both the fa'afafine community and her pioneering career.[5] Sele was the first fa'afafine to earn a doctorate degree, for a short term Sele was president of American Samoa Community College becoming the highest ranking fa'afafine at the time. Sele retired in 2005 and in 2007 published her autobiography "Memoirs of a Samoan, Catholic and Fa’afafine". Sele is widely known to have inspired many fa'afafines to pursue education many of whom affectionately call her "Mama". Sele lives in Tacoma, WA.[6] Leroy Lutu rose to great success with the Department of Education and retired in 2011. He was a popular local personality well known for his fashionable taste and socialite status. In 2008 both Sele and Lutu returned for the 25th anniversary of Miss Island Queens it was their last time together on stage. Lutu died in 2012.[7]

Notable Contestants & Winners
  • Cindy Filo was 3rd runner up in 1987’s Miss Island Queen.[8] Filo became “Cindy of Samoa” Samoa's first ever fa'afafine celebrity attracting tourism and fans for her drag revues in Apia. Filo toured her shows across the South Pacific and the United States.[9] Cindy was profiled in Heather Croall’s 1999 documentary Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa.[10] In 2008 Cindy was a finalist on the New Zealand reality show Stars in Their Eyes. She is profiled in Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand section on fa’afafine.[11]
  • [12] Michelle Eneliko was a prolific local educator who was 1st runner-up for Miss Island Queen 1990. Eneliko was among the fatality victims of the Samoa tsunami that devastated the Samoan islands on September 29, 2009.
  • [13] Miss Island Queen 1993, Shalimar (Atisone Seiuli) gained national media exposure in 1997 when she was arrested while in the company of Hollywood star Eddie Murphy.[14] The incident was publicized by tabloid magazines, TV shows and parodied on Mad TV and SNL resulting in several lawsuits brought on by Murphy and his lawyers. Seiuli died in Los Angeles reportedly in an accidental fall from her apartment building in 1998.[15] In 2003 the scandal was ranked #61 on E! TV's "The Greatest Shocking Moments in Entertainment History".
  • Rachael Ng Lam Miss Island Queen 1995 appeared in the 2011 sequel to the popular Samoan film “Tautoga Gaosia” playing herself.
  • [16] Miss Island Queen 1992 Loata Sipili is currently the highest ranking fa’afafine in American Samoa. Sipili is the only locally Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and administers the diabetes care and prevention clinic within LBJ Tropical Medical Center the territory’s only hospital.
  • Marsha Mageo, Shevon Matai, Shalimar Seiuli, Trisyss Ali & Samayah Jackson were all teenagers during their reign. Island Queens later adapted new regulations restricting eligibility.
  • Shevon Matai, Tasha Atio'o, Lydia Risati & Marion Mageo were all crowned twice as both Miss Island Queen & Miss American 7's
  • Pearl Mata'u is the oldest winner she was 40 when she won in 2003. Mata'u also holds the record for being the longest competitor a total of 10 times in the span of three decades.
  • Tasha Atio'o and Rexene Yandall are the only past winners to win pageant titles in American Samoa and Samoa.
  • Marion Malena Mageo Miss Island Queen 2005 & Miss American 7's 2007 is noted as a multiple pageant winner winning more than 8 titles in both American Samoa and the Mainland.
  • Miss Island Queen 2008 Princess Auva'a is a local movie actress . Auva'a starred in "Heart to Heart" and "Seki A Oe: a crazy Samoan love story" both filmed and produced in American Samoa & is serving in the US Army.
  • Miss SOFIAS 2017 Eden Brown was the winner of the 2014 "Le Leo O Amerika Samoa"
  • Ara-Lei Mahealani Yandall 2nd Runner Up in 2010 & 1st Runner Up in 2018 at the Miss SOFIAS Pageant was crowned as the 9th Miss UTOPIA International in 2018 and became the 3rd Samoan Faafafine to do so.
  • Miss Island Queen 2000 Agalelei Fatuesi became the first Faafafine to campaign for Public Office in the 2018 Election.
  • Miss SOFIAS 2013 Roberta Laumoli became the first Trans Fashion Designer to Showcase her creations & designs at the 2019 London Pacific Fashion Week representing American Samoa

Past winners

[17][18]

  • List of former Miss Island Queen titleholders
Year Miss Island Queen Hometown Village Age Host Venue
1979 Nancy Olo Fagatogo Herb & Sia's Motel
1981 Marsha Mageo Taputimu 17 Herb & Sia's Motel
1983 Tanya Laumoli Vailoatai 29 Tumua Palace Nightclub
1984 Rexene Yandall Atu'u Tumua Palace Nightclub
1985 Shevon Matai Fagatogo 17 Herb & Sia's Motel
1987 Tasha Le Atio'o Fagali'i, Samoa/Fagatogo 19 Rainmaker Hotel
1988 Stacie Titiali'i Alofau Rainmaker Hotel
1989 Julie McEntire (Meleise'a) Leloaloa 21 Rainmaker Hotel
1990 Danielle Mose Atu'u Rainmaker Hotel
1991 Cherylmoanamarie 'Cherie' Ripley Leone Rainmaker Hotel
1992 Loata Sipili Ili'ili 37 Rainmaker Hotel
1993 Shalimar (Atisone Seiuli) Mapusaga 17 Rainmaker Hotel
1994 Hazel Wells (Talia) Malaeloa 21 Rainmaker Hotel
1995 Rachael Ng Lam Apia, Samoa Rainmaker Hotel
1996 Ericha Thompson Pago Pago 28 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
1997 Tiffany Diaz (Potasi) Fagatogo 22 Rainmaker Hotel
1998 Isabella L. Valentino Apia, Samoa Rainmaker Hotel
2000 Lei Cameron (Fatuesi) Fagatogo 29 Pago Bay Restaurant
2001 Lydia Risati Fagatogo 30 Rainmaker Hotel
2003 Pearl Mata'u Afono 40 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2004 Sheena T. Willis (Ipi Ieli) Aua 37 Maliu Mai Beach Resort
2005 Marion Malena (Mageo) Pago Pago 20 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2006 Marlo Fuimaono A'oloau 31 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2007 Bianca Yoshimiro (Miscoi) Pago Pago 23 Pago Pago Community Center (Tautua Hall)
2008 Princess ArriannaAuva'a Malaeloa 22 Pago Pago Community Center (Tautua Hall)
2009 Didi De'Barge (Afuafi) Malaeloa 28 Tradewinds Hotel

S.O.F.I.A.S. is established

Year Miss S.O.F.I.A.S. Hometown Village Age Host Venue
2010 Pearl Langkilde Apia, Samoa Tradewinds Hotel
2011 Trina Tui Ili'ili 26 Tradewinds Hotel
2012 Tepatasi Vaina A'oloau 25 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2013 Roberta Fierce Laumoli Vailoatai 24 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2014 Maya Saumaeafe Aphrodite Blaque-Ierome Tula & Fagatogo Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2015 Arykah Contess Nicole De Lon Crè Fonoti Aoloau & Aasu 33 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2016 Jayleen Von-Shmidt Galea'i Iuli Chun Leone Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2017 Eden Brown Iliili 27 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2018 Valentana Faumuina Leone 28 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2019 Vanessa Simanu Ta'amu Utumea (East) Fatuoaiga Catholic Hall
  • List of former Miss American Sevens titleholders

Year Miss American 7s Hometown Village Age Host Venue
1999 Shevon Matai Fagatogo 31 Pago Bay Ball Restaurant
2000 Christina Robinson Apia, Samoa Rainmaker Hotel
2001 Tasha Le Atio‘o Fagalii, Samoa/Fagatogo 33 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2002 Mavis Connery Apia, Samoa Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2003 Athena Mauga Pago Pago 25 Maliu Mai Beach Resort
2004 Aysha Tomanogi Nu'uuli 25 Maliu Mai Beach Resort
2005 Lydia Risati Fagatogo 33 Maliu Mai Beach Resort
2006 Shiki Leaupepe Atu'u 26 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2007 Marion Malena (Mageo) Pago Pago 22 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2008 Trisyss Ali Suva, Fiji/Leone 17 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium
2009 Samayah Jackson (Tualaulelei) Pago Pago 19 Tradewinds Hotel


Runners-Up [Miss SOFIAS Title]
Year 1st Runner Up 2nd Runner Up 3rd Runner Up 4th Runner Up
2010 Maya Aphrodite Blaque Jerome Ara-Lei Mahealani Yandall Kiesha Cole Not Awarded
2011 Roberta Fierce Laumoli Davina Wallace (Ualesi) Not Awarded Not Awarded
2012 Jayleen Chun Tallahassee Mauga Not Awarded Not Awarded
2013 Antoneesha Misa Jaynah Karter(Muao) Moesha Bird Not Awarded
2014 Arykah Fonoti Viva La Juicy Mahe Anse Raphael(Lafaele) Not Awarded
2015 Chrystahl Portia Fiso Dessy Mua'ava Annie Olo Alanna Fizz Gore
2016 Miah Manuleleua Davina Wallace(Ualesi) Christian Wright Saalea Not Awarded
2017 Aruni Talaifaga Valentana Faumuina Lima Schwenke Francine Tuutatau
2018 Ara-Lei Mahealani Yandall Mikaela Saelua Dezonikah Michaels Isabella Ah-Mu Mageo
2019 CeCe Iavai Dezonikah Michaels Micay De La Cruz Aruni Talaifaga

References
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