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Miss South Pacific Pageant schedule posted

The week-long Miss South Pacific Pageant event this year hosted by Samoa kicks off on Dec. 4 with the arrival of contestants, and the finale is set for the evening of Dec. 10, when the new winner will be crowned, according to the organizing committee's program released this week in Apia.

Miss American Samoa Skyline Nua will represent the territory in the regional pageant, which is owned by the Samoa government. The total number of contestants this year is being firmed up by the Samoa organizing committee with the final list to be released soon.

The theme for this year's pageant is "Celebration of the South Pacific", which was agreed upon during last year's Pageant Board Meeting in Papua New Guinea, the last host country.

Aggie Grey's Hotel & Bungalows is the official hotel partner this year, and the host committee is providing each contestant and Official Chaperone a Twin Share Hotel Room and  three meals for seven days. Transfers between the hotel and airport are being provided by the Samoa government.

The pre-pageant events start on Dec. 5 with a breakfast briefing, and a drawing to determine the order of appearance on pageant night as well as discussion of interview topics. There will also be an official photo shoot along with the Pageant Chairman's reception and official opening of the Miss South Pacific Pageant, which includes the launch of Internet Voting.

A breakfast briefing and press conference is set for the next day followed by rehearsals, which are also set for the rest of the week.

The board of directors is scheduled to meet on Dec. 8 and among the issues of discussion will be the next host country for the 2012 pageant. American Samoa is expected to present a proposal at the time, and pageant chairman, Tuilaepa Malielegaoi, who is also Samoa's Prime Minister, will preside over the meeting. Virginia Samuelu is American Samoa's member on the board.

Pre-pageant interviews of the contestants are set for the morning of Dec. 9 and later in the afternoon the annual Miss South Pacific Floral Parade in the town area will be followed in the evening with the final full pageant rehearsal.

Contestants are scheduled to tour the Samoa Tourism Culture Center and the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum as well as make a charity visit to the Pediatric Ward of the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital as part of the pre-pageant program.

Venue for the Miss South Pacific Pageant on the evening of Dec. 10 will be announced soon. The contestants will be judged on their traditional wear, sarong, talent, and interview. The reigning Miss South Pacific Joyana Meyer of the Cook Islands will deliver her final speech before the new beauty queen is crowned.

Pageant regulation judging criteria states that if there are ten or more contestants, five finalists will be selected to move on to the interview portion of the competition. However, the host committee is proposing a change to this criteria.

"The Host Committee is proposing that this year, being the 25th Annual Miss South Pacific Pageant with secured viewership by a regional and international audience, that the Board of Directors approve the proposed amendment for all Contestants to be interviewed during the Stage Interview for the position of the Pageant and Title Winner," according to a message sent to the board, which has been asked to provide comments on this proposal by 4p.m. on Dec. 1.

"We look forward to your support and approval of the Host Committee's Request," the message states.

On the issue of pageant judges, the host committee says there are five judges stipulated by the rules and regulations, with four judges being overseas judges, but only one allocation for a local judge.

PAGEANT PRIZES

The new pageant winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000 Samoa Tala and air travel to attend the national pageant invitations of Miss South Pacific Pageant nations. The winner will also receive the Chairman's Tanoa as well as the traditional crown and sash, according to the host committee.

First runner-up gets $4,000 Samoa Tala; 2nd runner up receives $3,000 Samoa Tala; 3rd Runner up with $2,000 Samoa tala; and 4th runner up with $1,000 Samoa Tala.

Other participating contestants will get $500 Samoa tala and all contestants will receive a trophy and other prizes. More cash prizes or in-kind prizes could be add at a later time before the actual event.

The host committee is also presenting Special Awards: $1,000 Samoa tala cash prize each for: Miss Tourism Award, Best Talent Award, Best Interview Award; and Best Traditional Costume Award.

The winners of the Best Sarong, Miss Internet, Miss Photogenic and Miss Personality awards will each receive $700 Samoa Tala.