THE Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) is an event brining all women representatives of Pacific Island nations together to showcase their cultures and traditions through attires, story-telling, dancing and so forth.
Miss Solomon Islands Pageant Director and MPIP Board Member, Joyce Konofilia said MPIP is a Tourism Destination Marketing event and that for Solomon Islands, she is hoping that tourism officials can maximise the opportunity to promote Solomon Islands as a tourist destination and the hospitality of Solomon Islanders.
She said the eight 2025 Miss Pacific Islands contestants will be promoting their respective cultures and talents on stage.
“But, in terms of us as a country, it is an opportunity for us to promote our tourism destination and hospitality.
“And also financially, economically, we are hoping that these people that will come, spend [money] in our local economy for a spinoff, but at the same time share what they can offer.
“For instance, some of the participating Pacific Island nations will sell their local items during the Market Day at the SMI grounds on the Friday 7February. There will be exchanging of accessories, cultures and stories.
Ms Konofilia said some people perceive Pageant shows as just about girls dressing up nicely and showcasing their beauty.
“For our local pageant, we have stopped using the term ‘Beauty Pageant’ and we just use ‘Pageant’ and it comes through with the MPIP.
“It’s all about women empowerment, women promoting issues that are important to them. These issues vary from Leadership, Politics, Health, Business and so forth.
“At this juncture, I would like to mention that this year’s MPIP theme is ‘Leadership in Diversity and Adversity’ which is all about women as resilient human beings.
“In good and bad times, we are always strong to look after our families, our communities and our country in terms of our contributions in areas that we are involved in,” Ms Konofilia said.
MPIP celebrates and recognises women’s intelligence and talents. It also celebrates women’s contributions to regional affairs and their ability to advance in diverse fields in their respective countries, the Pacific region and beyond.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara