The Minister of Tourism has announced that the Samoa Tourism Authority is not considering endorsing another beauty contest organised by a telecommunication company  for someone to fly the Samoan flag at an international pageant in November. 

In an interview with the Savali newspaper, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster made it clear that the government only supported and endorsed the annual Miss Samoa Pageant. 

Toeolesulusulu confirmed that he met with representatives from the Vodafone Samoa company at his office and they informed him of their plans. 

Toeolesulusulu further explained that he had made it clear to the representatives from Vodafone Samoa that there is only one pageant in Samoa and that is the Miss Samoa, which brings in all the different contestants from all around the globe to compete for the Miss Samoa title and whoever wins will be an ambassador for Samoa and represent Samoa in the regional Miss Pacific Island Pageant. 

"That is the only recognised pageant in Samoa and S.T.A. is always in the forefront leading all the preparations for the annual pageant," said Toeolesulusulu. 

Toeolesulusulu then confirmed that he had advised the representatives from Vodafone Samoa against hosting another beauty pageant different from Miss Samoa. 

He understands that anyone has the right to come up with their own pageant. But, if they want endorsement from the government, that would be difficult, said Toeolesulusulu. 

Toeolesulusulu explained that the Miss Samoa, once crowned, will be the face of Samoa and become an ambassador for the country and its people. 

She will be attending a lot of events locally and internationally to represent the country and to promote Samoa. 

So having two winners from two beauty pageants can cause confusions in terms of roles and responsibilities that come with the title and crown. 

Toeolesulusulu made it clear that without the endorsement from the government, whoever wins the Miss Samoa Global, organised by Manaia Events and Vodafone Samoa will not be recognised as a "flag-bearer" of Samoa. 

There has been mixed reactions from the Samoan community following the announcement from the Minister of Tourism. 

The Organisers of the Miss Samoa New Zealand Pageant who took the former Miss Samoa New Zealand, Miss Samoa and Miss South Pacific, Latafale Auva'a to the Miss World in 2015 expressed disappointment towards the announcement from the Minister. 

Seumanu Te'eva Matafai took her disappointment to social media reminding everyone of how she was "shunned" when she approached the "necessary people" in 2015 for support, to take Latafale as a representative of Samoa to the Miss World. 

"Latafale placed in every category out of 132 countries and she was selected to perform the Siva Samoa in front of billions of viewers," Seumanu said. 

"People are quick to discredit the effort of some, why not get behind everything that is for Samoa." She also shared that this is "free marketing for Samoa" as they represent Samoa and no one else. 

The former Miss Samoa and Miss South Pacific, Latafale was criticised by the former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi for missing out on the Miss South Pacific pageant to attend the Miss World. 

Latafale went to China for the international beauty contest without the approval from the government at the time. 

The local mobile phone company, Vodafone Samoa issued a statement, advising young Samoan women that registrations have opened up for the Vodafone Miss Samoa Global this year.

Vodafone Samoa said online registration opened Saturday 5 August 2023 and will close on 5 September 2023. All participants must comply with the eligibility requirements for participation in the Vodafone Miss Samoa Global 2023 including being female, being between the ages of 18–35, shouldn't be married or pregnant, should be able to communicate in English, having a minimum height of 5'7, be of Samoan heritage and be familiar with Samoan culture.