THE reigning Miss Pacific Islands Miss Ann Dunn of Fiji calls on Solomon Islands for support for the seven Miss Solomon Islands Pageant contestants as they prepare for the crowning night and the ultimate Miss Pacific Islands pageant.
Ms Dunn made the call at the launch of the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant 2017 at the Honiara Hotel on Thursday, which saw the contestants formally introduced themselves.
“These contestants need your support because it is not an easy thing to be a young woman and get up on the stage and try to convince you to support her,” Ms Dunn said.
“What is done on stage is what matters because as much as this is about beauty, it’s also an opportunity to speak and articulate issues that affect us as young women and more especially as young Pacific Islands women,” she added.
“So I do ask for your support for these young women as they continue on their journey to becoming Miss Solomon Islands.”
Ms Dunn said gaining confidence for public speaking is not an easy thing and she herself is as nervous as any can be on stage.
“I tell you I was as nervous as they are on stage. I could still be up here as Miss Pacific Islands and be just as nervous and so it’s always something that we all don’t get used.”
In her remarks to the contestants, Ms Dunn said:
“To the beautiful women behind me who are about to take the stage, I do wish you all the best.
“I hope that you do your nation proud in whatever capacity that you have. It’s something to be able to be yourself and come out and represent which ever province or organisation you are representing.
“Introducing yourself to a big crowd or even a small crowd is nerve-racking and it doesn’t get any better if you are crowned Miss Pacific Islands.”
Ms Dunn also took the opportunity to thank everyone who that involved in getting her to Solomon Islands including Solomon Host.
She said prior to coming to Solomon Islands, she only had chances to see glimpses of the country when Dive Munda went to the tourism scene in Sydney, Australia, earlier this year.
“That was a great chance for me to see your coral reefs and the other islands like that but not so much of Honiara so it’s a privilege to be invited here and be able to participate in your pageant and be able know the contestants.
Ms Dunn, a lawyer by profession, was raised in California, United States of America, and only returned to Fiji in 2011.
By DELI OSO
