Miss American Samoa Pauliana Felise Vitale gave an impressive presentation at the pre-pageant interview for the Miss Pacific Islands in Honiara, Solomon Islands, yesterday.
She blew a conch shell to start off her talk on the topic International Relations. She discussed how Pacific islands have benefitted from assistance of donor countries with whom they have bilateral relations, and how island countries themselves have presented a united voice on the international arena in areas, such as climate change.
Play Audiopauliana-international
(Transc.) Vitale: Together, we are United Pacific, and through our collective strength we have made an impact on the global stage. What is through the Pacific Islands Forum, which I am happy to say that American Samoa was recently accepted as a member of the United Nations. We have used our influence to call for urgent action on climate change in the protection of our oceans. Our region, shared vision and commitment to sustainable development serve as a reminder of how much more we can achieve when we stand together as Pacific women. We carry this legacy of unity and purpose. The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant is not just a beauty contest. It is a platform for change, forming diplomatic ties and for ensuring that the voices of Pacific peoples are heard in global discussions. As Hilda Heine, former president of the Marshall Islands, once said, Pacific women are not waiting to be given a seat at the table. We are building our own table and inviting the world to sit with us.
She fielded two questions from the judges, one of which was the role of cultural diplomacy in international relations.
Play Audiocultural-diplomacy
(Transc.) Vitale: As Pacific Islanders. We don’t lead out of greed for power, or the greed for money. We lead for the love of our people. We lead because we’re caretakers of the largest body of water. We fight for a deeper purpose. We don’t just lead for a title. Where I’m from in American Samoa, as well as my sister Litara, you know, we share the same culture. We say, [Samoan phrase]… the way to leadership is through service. And I believe that is the way that most of our Pacific Island people live, really with service, and we live in the heart. The heart of wanting change for our people and not the money or the power or paying into the capitalistic way of life. That’s not who we are. And that’s why cultural diplomacy is so important. It is the heartbeat of who we are as leaders in the Pacific.
The new Miss Pacific islands will be crowned tomorrow night. All the best Pauliana!
Photo: MASI.
