The girl Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi said would only get “pa’upa’u” (snots) for competing at the Miss World pageant might end up having the last laugh.
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Reigning Miss Pacific Islands and former Miss Samoa, Latafale Auva’a, remains in the competition with a very good chance of even winning it with the finale approaching.
On Thursday, Ms. Auva’a made the final of the Miss World Sports Challenge Event in Sanya, China and came fifth. The Challenge was won by Miss Namibia with Miss Seychelles finishing second and Miss Guam third.
Her performance gained her valuable points for the Miss World leaderboard, which will determine the overall winner.
For Ms. Auva’a, the Sports Challenge follows other top performances in the Talent and Traditional Wear category where she made the top 10.
Posting on her Facebook page, Ms. Auva’a said the spirit of the Lord has been her strength since the beginning of the Miss World.
She said the Sports Challenge was a tough battle but she was comforted by the thought that the people of Samoa and the Pacific are supporting her.
In another post, she wrote: “My faith has been the backbone to my drive for life.
"Jesus keeps me sane, comforts me when I am so often away from the rock of support which is my family, assures me that I am loved, treasured, fearfully and wonderfully made to do amazing things (that I haven't even dreamt of yet), coaches me in the meaning of love and calms me in the midst of the storms that life has to bring."
“An incredible speaker once said, 'our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure'.
“With God’s grace, I am overjoyed to understand the power within us to succeed, achieve and dare to dream of things we think can never happen.
“Last year, I would never have thought I'd be involved in beauty competitions! But God’s hand delivers me a forum to show true beauty comes from your heart, your actions and not merely aesthetics. So here I am now. 22. Competing in the biggest pageant in history."
“I pray for those who are suffering worldwide - and I count my blessings of being alive, in good health, and knowing the love of God. Thank you so much to all who have commented and supported me.”
Prior to her departure, Prime Minister Tuilaepa had blasted Ms. Auva’a for choosing the Miss World Pageant over the regional Miss Pacific Islands.
“The only pageant that our Miss was supposed to contest in is the Pacific Islands one,” Tuilaepa said.
“But to go on the world stage is a waste of time (na’o pa’upa’u mea e maua ai).”
According to Tuilaepa, the Miss Pacific Islands should get her priorities right.
“The Miss Pacific is to promote Samoa and the other Pacific islands,” he said.
“But to jump up onto the world stage is just wanting too much…it is common practice for us to leave what we are capable of and to reach for something that we are nowhere near accomplishing. All you get is embarrassment.”
Ms. Auva’a has had to overcome 132 other contestants in all the categories of the competition.
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