Year 13 student Shawwn Sulupo Atanoa at the Palalaua College was crowned Miss Palalaua College 2020 last Friday in the final activity for the term.

The pageant was initiated by the college last year as part of its community day. 

Four contestants represented the different course areas: commerce, arts, science and TVET  vied for the crown. 

Miss Arts won the inaugural pageant last year and again this year when Shawwn won three of four pageant categories. 

The categories included talent, interview, creative wear and a taualuga (Samoan performance).

In an interview with Ms Atanoa, she explained her talent and left a message for herself and those who attended the pageant. 

"My talent was about a dream. I dreamt of becoming a teacher, a lawyer and a news presenter," said the 18-year-old winner.

"I dreamt of all three and then I woke up and found out that it was just a dream. 

"What I was trying to portray and what I told myself about my talent was that I could achieve my dreams and become one of the things I had dreamt about if I excel and study hard in this stage of my life as a student."

She said that what she dreamt about in her talent fits well with the subjects that she is currently studying in school and she is a full arts student. 

Her creative wear was inspired by Samoa's national bird manumea, which was initially suggested by her teachers and she picked it. 

When asked how she feels about being crowned Miss Palalaua College 2020, she said she felt ecstatic. 

"I relied on God so that I could win the pageant, but before the pageant started I had a feeling that I was going to win, I’m not saying I was being high-minded about winning the pageant but I prayed to God that I wanted to win and he answered my prayers," she added.

Shawwn aspires to become either a lawyer or a news presenter in the future.