The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, scheduled to take place next month in Nadi, Fiji, is generating significant excitement throughout the Pacific region. However, the event is also marred by allegations of bias in the selection process and questions surrounding the impartiality of its judges.
Ailava Samuels, the first runner-up in the Miss Fiji 2025 pageant, has been chosen to represent Fiji at the upcoming regional competition. This appointment follows a contentious situation involving Dr. Peggy Ravusiro, who was crowned Miss Fiji but did not sign the contract to participate in the pageant. Ravusiro raised concerns about her treatment by the Miss Fiji Secretariat and the transparency of the selection process, citing that the contract was presented to her on Christmas Eve with minimal time for review.
In a press conference, Ravusiro expressed her discomfort with certain elements of the contract, including concerns for her personal safety. She claimed that an official advised her to “lose weight” and emphasized the need for safety assurances within the contract. In response, Miss Fiji Pageant Director Ana Tuiketei refuted these claims, stating that the focus was on overall wellness rather than just physical appearance, and mentioned that no formal grievances had been submitted to the committee.
Tuiketei explained the necessity of appointing Samuels, as the regional event is imminent and registration had already closed. She highlighted the responsibility to ensure that Fiji’s representative is ready to take on the responsibilities of the competition, assuring that this decision followed their internal governance and contractual processes.
While tensions grow, Ravusiro extended her best wishes to Samuels, calling for unity among participants. In a separate development, the Solomon Islands announced their withdrawal from the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2026, citing unresolved issues from the previous pageant in Honiara, particularly involving accusations against a Samoan judge regarding manipulation of scores. The Miss Solomon Islands Pageant Committee expressed dissatisfaction that their concerns had not been adequately addressed by the pageant’s organizing committee.
Despite the controversies, the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant continues to symbolize a celebration of culture and beauty across the Pacific, with hopes that all parties can come together to ensure a fair and engaging competition.
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