Miss South Pacific 1996 and Miss Samoa Seiuli Verona Lovel Parker was wiping dust off the shelves and shining the stock at the Morris Hedstrom Supermarket (M.H.) in Apia, when she was first approached to enter the Miss Samoa Pageant. 

"My part-time job with M.H. paid me $SAT90 every fortnight, which was handed over to my grandmother for our family expenses," she said.

Seiuli said she initially declined the offer because she was thinking about the expenses. She declined the offer for the following two years as well.

"I pointed out a lot of scars on my legs and body insecurities as an excuse to decline the second time I was asked to enter. My studies at the University Preparatory Year became another excuse to decline the third time," she said.

Seiuli said her supervisor at her job, was the reason she finally accepted the invitation to join the Miss Samoa pageant.

"The late Ollie Palepa Stowers Aita, a beautiful and determined lady, who happened to be my supervisor at M.H., had more confidence in me that I had for myself. She was not one to take no for an answer," she said. 

"She laid out her best laid plans, was willing to cover all expenses and sponsor me through her dream company, Vinesse Creations, that was to open a couple of years after I had won."

Seiuli said her grandmother’s cautionary reminder every time she left home for school, work or anywhere for that matter was to say, “Veloga, o lau filifiliga e ke lelei ai, o lau filifiliga foi e ke leaga ai-alu faalelei” which translates to ‘Verona, your decisions in life will either make you or break you – go well’. 

"After a lot of prayers and reflections with spiritual mentors Pastor Isaia and Lisa Lameta of Youth For Christ at the time, I made the most daring decision of my 20-year-old life and said yes," she said. 

After winning the Miss Samoa 1996, Seiuli was placed in the Samoa Visitors Bureau now known as the Samoa Tourism Authority to support the Marketing Division with promotional outreach and activities both locally and internationally. She had to attend to official government and charitable events as required.

Seiuli said since its inception1987, the coveted Miss South Pacific title had been carried by beauties from around the Pacific except Samoa. 

"There was little time for me to prepare for this next competition," she said.

"Rehearsals and practice for the pageant categories, however, would go late into the night, as late as 3am in the morning. I have never come across such a driven group to perfect everything from my dance to the way I walked, spoke, and dressed. 

"The saying that the ‘devil is in the details’ comes to mind when I reflect on the passion and dedication of the amazing individuals that came together, sacrificed their own sleep, time and resources to see me through all the preparations," she said. 

Seiuli recalled meeting the Minister of Tourism whom was the former Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, the day before the Miss South Pacific pageant.

"It was a brief encounter with the man whose vision to boost regional relations through tourism saw the birth of the Miss South Pacific Pageant in 1986 as a strategic platform; to display women’s beauty and talent, unique cultures, traditions and attires of the islands they represent but ultimately to bring the pacific together," she said. 

"I left that meeting inspired but also filled with trepidation with his last words hanging in the air, “It’s been 10 years since we started this pageant, I wish you the best but bring home the crown," she said.

Seiuli went on to win the Miss South Pacific crown, and the first Samoan to win it after 10 years. After that, more Samoan beauties followed suit, including Mary-Jane Mckibbin Schwenke (1997), Cheri Moana Robinson (1998), Manamea Apelu Schwalger (2001), Janine Vicki Tuivaiti (2012), Latafale Auva'a (2014), and Fonoifafo Macfarland-Seumanu (2019).