The Chief Financial Officer for Vodafone Samoa, Anish Chandra has confirmed that Haylani Pearl Kuruppu's Miss Global journey including the help from seven sponsors cost close to half a million tala.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Mr. Chandra stressed that this includes all the costumes, paying the team, and designers such as Afa Ah Loo who helped make Haylani's global journey a success.

"We have officially about seven sponsors which do not include the support of the Government but at the same time we have the support of the Government and a few others that went out of their way to support and get things on time," he said.

This comes before a press conference held at the Vodafone headquarters on Monday where Haylani was warmly welcomed by members of the press, Vodafone, and fans, and where the first runner-up spoke fondly of the support system.

Meanwhile, asked how much of an impact this has made for Samoa and herself. Haylani said she is confident in how much she has showcased Samoa to the world through the platform she took and which she will continue to take as a first runner-up.

"It's crazy because the Miss Global Organisation, they take the winner and the runners up to destinations and they involve the runners-up a lot more," she said.

Haylani explained that there will be a visit to India next month which she explained is an opportunity for her as a Samoan ambassador to showcase Samoa to the world as a runner-up.

The Miss Global first runner-up also has her eyes on ways to promote Samoa while she was in Cambodia by bringing the global pageant to Samoa which is something she only hopes for in the meantime.

"I think potentially in the future, maybe Vodafone will be able to host a Miss Global and bring in 70 countries, I saw the benefits of Cambodia in terms of tourism, nobody knew about Cambodia until they were in the country," she said.

Meanwhile, Haylani and Mr. Chandra both stressed Samoa is capable of hosting the global pageant as well as sponsoring another female candidate for the pageant in the future.

Haylani surprised most people at the pageant when she made it past the top 20, then the top five and was just a step away from the crown.

The pageant had been an opportunity to promote Samoa and open up opportunities for other Samoan women.