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Reigning Miss South Pacific Vanessa Marsh says this year’s pageant is going to be exciting as the contestants are extremely intelligent, confident and beautiful.
Marsh who represented Niue to the 2008 South Pacific Pageant in Samoa arrived in Fiji yesterday for the festival, hosted by Fiji for the first time, and which begins on Saturday at Suva’s Albert Park.
Marsh who is already excited to be part of the event is eager to explore the capabilities of the 11 contestants.
“The focus is not on beauty alone as beauty comes in various forms either in physicality or personality. It’s about bringing out concepts that solves issues, being an ambassador for your country and being talented so it’s going to be an exciting week for the contestants,” Marsh told FijiLive.
She said there was a diverse range of women at this year’s pageant and agreed that judging should not be based on beauty alone.
“To judge this as being a beauty pageant is totally unfair.”
Excited to be in Fiji, Marsh said that Fiji had raised the standard of the pageant and hoped it would remain that way.
“I can see that this is going to be something big and thanks to the organisers because without them this event will not be successful. I’m grateful to be here and I can’t wait for the pageant to begin.”
Marsh will make her first appearance on stage with the opening dance during the Contestant Introduction night and she will assist contestants during the Sarong/Sulu judging night next Wednesday.
She will also be handing over the crown to Miss South Pacific 2009 during the crowning night next Saturday.
Meanwhile, still to arrive is Miss Tonga Paea Okusitina Wilhemina who is expected in the country on Saturday after the opening ceremony.
