The Solomon Islands will not compete in the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2026 in Fiji, citing unresolved issues stemming from last year’s pageant in Honiara, involving a Samoan pageant judge, Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt.
Leiataualesa was issued a stop order preventing him from leaving the Solomon Islands following the conclusion of the Miss Pacific Islands last year.
Samoa Observer reports he was alleged to have rigged the score sheet to allow Miss Samoa Litara Ieremia-Allan to win the Miss Pacific title.
These are claims that Leiataualesa denied.
The Miss Pacific Islands organising committee also cleared Leiataualesa of any wrong doing.
In a public statement, the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant Committee confirmed the withdrawal, saying the decision was based on events that unfolded on the final crowning night of the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2025, which the Solomon Islands hosted.
“Our Government invested a lot of resources in the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2025. In fact, it was one of the biggest Miss Pacific Islands Pageants so far,” the statement said.
They also said that the hosts covered contestants, delegates, and the reigning Miss Pacific Islands 2024/25 Moemoana Schwenke and her team throughout the event.
“However, the incident that transpired on the final crowning night, which implicated the head judge from Samoa, Mr Brunt, for not being transparent in his conduct during the final votes, marred all our hard work and efforts to have a transparent, ethical and fair process for a successful Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2025,” the statement said.
“It is sad that the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant board has decided to push the issue under the carpet and not deal with Judge Brunt’s action.”
“Based on the above, we have decided to abide by the Minister of Home Affairs advice not to participate in the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2026 until further notice,” the statement said.
