Eight young women are vying to be the next Miss American Samoa—the first time in many years the pageant has attracted this many contestants.
Some of the contestants are from off-island but have roots in American Samoa.
The winner will be crowned Saturday, May 7, at the Lee Auditorium.
On Friday, President of the Miss American Samoa Inc. (MASI), Mrs. Meafou Imo; reigning Miss American Samoa Angelfromheaven Pauliana Felise Vitale; and the contestants visited the KHJ Studio to talk about the pageant and introduce themselves and their platforms.
The contestants are: Esethi Taito, Nuu Letoe, Malialole Hafoka, Tofoipupu Unutoa, Salavatia Lauvao, Fuamailelagimanuiaolenuu Tago, Hermione Simanu, and Taputailo Fe’a.
Contestant #1 – Esethi Taito
Nineteen-year-old Esethi Taito was born in Washington and resides in Lawton, Oklahoma, where she is pursuing a degree in psychology at Western Governors University.
Esethi Taito
She works at the Lawton Family YMCA assisting in youth development activities.
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Esethi is sponsored by Le Maimoaga Designs, Families and Friends.
Nu’u Toe
Contestant #2 – Nu’u Letoe
Nineteen-year-old Nu’u Letoe is from Salt Lake City, Utah. She is a full-time student at Snow College and has chosen “Service Through Music” as her platform.
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Malialole Hafoka
Nu’u is sponsored by Tausala America/Nafanua Foundation.
Contestant #3 – Malialole Hafoka
Malialole, 20, is originally from Oxnard, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah. She teaches Polynesian music and dance to elementary and middle school students and operates her own Polynesian Cultural Arts Studio.
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Malialole’s sponsors are Alofa Faasamoa, An Whut, and Caleb Designs.
Tofoipupu Unutoa
Contestant #4 – Tofoipupu Unutoa
Twenty-four-year-old Tofoipupu Unutoa is currently a compliance officer at the ASG ARPA Office. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from Southern Oregon University and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army after four years of training with the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps.
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Tofoipupu Unutoa is sponsored by Kailani Designs.
Contestant #5 – Salavatia Lauvao
Salavatia Lauvao, 24, graduated from Manumalo Baptist School and Tafuna High School. A devout Christian, her platform has a spiritual focus.
Salavatia Lauvao
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Fuamailelagimanuiaolenuu Tago
Salavatia Lauvao is sponsored by Steven & Sons.
Contestant #6 – Fuamailelagimanuiaolenuu Tago
Fuamailelagimanuiaolenuu Tago, 25, is currently the Coral Restoration Coordinator at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.
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Fuamailelagimanuiaolenuu Tago is sponsored by Moana Chips.
Contestant #7 – Hermione Simanu
Hermione Simanu, 21, is a nursing major and student=athlete. She is active in the Student Association for Faasamoa at the American Samoa Community College.
Hermione Simanu
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Taputailo Fe’a
Hermione Simanu is sponsored by Pule Pule Creative Arts.
Finally, Contestant #8 – Taputailo Fe’a
Twenty-seven-year-old Taputailo Fe’a is a certified nursing assistant for the Department of Health and a Newborn Hearing Screener with the Helping Babies Hear Program. She is part of the inaugural cohort of the Pacific Island Health Officers Association Fellowship Program and is set to graduate this month as a Public Health Fellow with a postgraduate certificate in Epidemiology.
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Taputailo is sponsored by Vailuu & Sons Inc.
Good luck to all the contestants!
Photos: Marcella Fitisone/Sinavemafiti
