Miss Niue & Teen Niue pageant makes a return after 11 years
Posted on Facebook by Miss Niue Committee Member Anthea Hekau-Harding | Photo credits: Anthea Hekau-Harding/Facebook
It has been more than 10 years since the Miss Niue and Miss Teen Niue pageant has taken place on the island. But just last week, a post was released on social media by the Miss Niue Committee highlighting the revival of the pageant to take place in May this year.
“This year we have agreed with the government (of Niue) that they’ll be helping to fund, with the tourism department, for this pageant to go through,” says Miss Niue committee member Robin Hekau in an interview with BCN News last week.
The pageant is scheduled to take place from the 10th to the 18th of May.
Robin says that the pageant is open for overseas entries and non-Niuean girls living on the island, who have lived in Niue for more than 3 to 5 years.
“We have now opened it up for any Niuean girls that are residing overseas that can come and enter the pageant.”
Niue has won two titles for Miss South Pacific. First in 2004 by Sinahemana Hekau and Vanessa Marsh in 2008.
“Since then we haven’t really participated more in the South Pacific Pageant or continue on with our Miss Niue pageant,” says Robin.
The Miss Niue pageant first began in 1995 and Pauline Rex was the first Miss Niue on the island during that era, says Robin.
The last Miss Niue pageant was in 2013 where young Nina Nemaia from Alofi was the last title holder for Miss Niue.
Since then, there hasn’t been a Miss Niue pageant throughout the years due to financial constraints and lack of interest and girls on the island to participate.
However, seeing how there are a number of young talented and beautiful girls on the island and with the 50th Constitution celebrations this year, it was a good idea to revive the Miss Niue pageant this year, says Robin.
By doing this, they are also encouraging the girls to help promote this pageant for the 50th constitution.
“Some things we are planning on doing are different from the past.”
They are planning to add in new content for this pageant that goes with the modern times and involves active participation and involvement throughout, says Robin.
The Miss Niue pageant is aimed at young women aged between 18 to 25 years.
The Miss Teen Niue is aimed at teen girls aged between 14 to 17 years.
The pageant is supported with funding from the Government of Niue and Niue Tourism, says Robin.
However, when BCN News spoke with Premier Dalton Tagelagi yesterday morning regarding the government’s support for the pageant this year, he was not aware that the government was providing any financial support for the pageant.
The Miss Niue committee for this pageant include Sinahemana Hekau, Anthea Harding, Norma Palana and Robin Hekau.
Registrations for the Miss Niue and Miss Teen Niue pageant closes 15th March 2024.
For more information on the pageant, contact the committee.
