Don’t give up on your dreams
She might not have won the Miss Samoa but one of the more popular contestants during this year’s pageant, Monica Schwenke, has a message for everyone.
Do not give up on your dreams. For her, one of her dreams was realised when she took part in the pageant held two weeks ago.
As a young girl, she used to dress up and parade in her family’s living room, pretending to be a model strutting her stuff down the catwalk.
Then this year, she was asked to be a contestant in the pageant where she was sponsored by Le Spa o le La Lelei o Samoa.
“I’m a strong believer in God and I’m also a very strong believer in never giving up on your dreams.”
Ms. Schwenke says the pageant taught her many valuable lessons.
“I have always wanted to be in the Miss Samoa and thought if I didn’t enter now it would be never,” she says. She acknowledges the support from relatives, friends, local supporters and many others who have made her dream become true.
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During the pageant, Ms. Schwenke won the best traditional wear and the best sarong awards.
“The experience has been a life changing one for me – it’s something I will never forget,” she says, adding that the highlight for her were the pre-pageant activities where they visited the Samoa Victim Support Group, Little Sisters of the Poor and the Tupua Tamasese Meaole
Hospital at Moto’otua.
Further, she says the relationships made with the contestants will remain with her forever. “I gained 10 other sisters including Susana Fanueli. I am thankful to them for being a part of my journey as well as Manaia Events for bringing us together through this event.”
She also offers her biggest congratulations to the Miss Samoa Latafale Auva’a.
“I wish her all the best and congratulations I know this is a great year for her and her family.”
Ms. Schwenke is based in Australia. There, she offers her help at Matavai Culture Arts School run by her brother, Fred and former Miss Samoa and Miss South Pacific, Maryjane McKibbin- Schwenke.
She also acknowledges her mother, Rita for her support and love for her and bringing her up to be the young woman she is today.
“This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the help of so many people,” she says.
“There’s the Culture x Samoa Team, Culture X Australia, Culture X New Zealand, hair dressers; Yvette and Joel and family, Millie Ah Kuoi, Pou Rassmussen, Lucia and Kalolo, Ake, Raymond and Isadora Betham, Ernest and Hanalei Betham, Kevin and Sia Kohlhase, Cedric and Brenda Meredith, Ken and Lagi Schwenke, Janine Ruta from Australia, Louisa and Christina, Derick and Sophia Lei Sam, my nephews and nieces, friends and family and supporters who gave her the heart to finish what she started. I also want to especially thank my brother Ben and wife Leti Schwenke.”
So what’s the future for her?
She says she is spending time with family in Samoa where she will continue to embrace her Samoan culture until she returns to Australia.
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