Miss South Pacific Calls On Government Leaders To Work Together

November 28, 2009 7:18 a.m. EST

Suva, Fiji (AHN) - Miss Fiji Merewalesi Nailatikau tonight grabbed the Miss South Pacific crown in the Miss South Pacific pageant ahead of 12 other contestants at Suva's Albert Park, calling on all leaders to work together.

The Kadavu Island lass, sponsored by the Fiji National Provident Fund who had just been crowned the Miss Hibiscus queen in August this year during the annual Hibiscus Festival in Fiji, has just been crowned amidst a crowd of more than 8000 people and 6 million television viewers across the Pacific.

Kadavu is the fourth largest island in Fiji with a population of a little more than 10, 167.

An emotional Mere, as she is fondly known, thanked God "for a beautiful South Pacific, its people, culture and values".

"Our challenges shape us into stronger better people. My reward is the love and friendship that I've shared with my sisters (fellow contestants)," she said.

Nailatikau urged local and international leaders saying "unity is possible if we place differences aside and work towards a common goal".

"I'd like to thank my family and all viewers tonight. Tonight's victory is not just for one country but for all of the South Pacific.

"Just like when we face the threat of climate change, it's not only a threat to one island but to all islands in the Pacific," the former journalist said.

Miss Cook Islands Engara Gosselin, 24, Miss Aotearoa Paretaunu Randall, 25, Miss Solomon Islands Millicent Barty, 19, and Miss Samoa Tusisaelia Pomele, 22, were respectively crowned first to fourth runner-up.

Papua New Guinea will host the next pageant in 2010.

The Miss South Pacific pageant was first held in Samoa in 1987 after its founding in 1986.