The amazing Miss Samoa pageant concludes this Saturday night, with another young woman chosen to be an ambassador for Samoa, its culture, and its people.

We thank Moemoana Safa'ato'a Schwenke for being one of the most outstanding Miss Samoa we have had in ages. You have been a true tamaiti Samoa. You upheld culture and tradition and were outspoken on issues that needed to be highlighted.

You represented Samoa at the COP 27 meeting and voiced the needs of Samoa and other Pacific nations on what they needed to become resilient and adapt to climate change. You led the way and showed what being a true Miss Samoa means.

Samoa thanks you for your service and we hope that you will maintain that connection with the people and the land that you are bonded with. We acknowledge your remarkable upbringing.

Maryjane Moe McKibbin-Schwenke was a pioneer when it came to Pacific pageantry and she ensured that her daughter, Moemoana was twice as good as her. And she was.

Who can forget her talent at the Miss Pacific pageant? That firedance sealed the deal. Halfway through the pageantry, all of Pacific knew that Moemoana deserved to be Miss Pacific.

Moemoana has left big shoes to be filled.  She was culturally gifted, a natural beauty and a brain's trust. Even before coming for the Miss Samoa pageant, Moemoana knew the direction she was headed. Hopefully, the incoming Miss Samoa has the same dedication as Moemoana did.

It is always hard to follow a superb act. That is the challenge that lies ahead for the next Miss Samoa.

It was also interesting to hear the opinions of the contestants during the pre-pageant interviews. Brianna Fruean was brilliant in her observation of culture and tradition and how it led to a culture of silence and violence.

“The same mat the children sleep is the same mat all issues are swept under.” Spot on Miss Fruean. You have voiced something that the editorials of this newspaper have been harping on for years. We hope that this gets noticed and not just clapped on and forgotten by the audience.

How true you are Ms Freuan, we live in a society where people will disregard domestic violence and sexual assaults on children because it disgraces the family. They will not do the right thing because to do so means shame.

We live in a society where the village council will condone the acts of a chief or an elder family member towards a vulnerable child or member of the family rather than follow the law. We live in a society where the village council thinks that they are higher than the courts.

There have been other interesting topics that other contestants have brought up during their time on the podium.

There is also a desire from many to see more local girls participate. Not to disrespect the beautiful Samoan women from overseas who have always been brilliant, but there needs to be a local pageant to select the best local contestants.

This way it can be the best local contestants against the best overseas-based ones. Perhaps a local pageantry could bring out the best among the local young women. The Miss Samoa platform is more than a pageant. It is a stage to deliver messages that would improve Samoa and help realise things that need to be done to improve and promote Samoa.

The next Miss Samoa’s first big job would be at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. She would represent Samoa to the 56 countries that make up the Commonwealth.

Once again, we thank all the beautiful young women who braved it to make it to the Miss Samoa pageant. All of them contested in competitions to win their local pageantry before coming to Samoa.

Thank you for participating and sharing your views. We hope that you all enjoyed your time in the pageant. Do not mind the keyboard warriors and the couch coaches, be proud and happy that you all made it to a place where thousands want to be.

Whoever wins on Saturday night, remember you will have all of Samoa with you.