Tessi Toluta’u, the daughter of Viliami and Sheila Toluta’u of Laie, won the Miss South Pacific title on November 17 in Apia, Samoa.

Toluta’u, 20, a sophomore social work major at BYU-Hawaii and a member of the Polynesian Cultural Center Promo Team, previously won the Miss Tonga USA title in Honolulu in May, and the Miss Heilala title in Nuku’alofa in June. She is currently in Tonga focusing on her official duties and working with the Tonga Visitors Bureau.

Luçie Wilson — the daughter of Christian and Patricia Wilson of Laie, a BYUH freshman and a PCC Promo Team member — also participated in the pageant this year; and Sina Nauahi of Laie, daughter of Gabriel and Eleni Nauahi, came in third in the pageant last year. Nauahi also held the Miss Tonga USA and Miss Heilala titles that year, and passed her crowns on to Toluta’u.

Sheila Toluta’u, an RN at Kahuku Hospital and a former beauty pageant winner in Alaska, said, “The competition was pretty stiff, but when all was said and done, Tessi did smashingly well. She had the judges laughing in the interview and her talent was very strong. I’m the mom, so I’m bragging, but she did very well in all areas.”

The senior Toluta’u thanked Eleni Nauahi, who accompanied them to Apia, for her help in creating Tessi’s dance costume and “island creation outfit” of all-natural materials. “She won that category because Eleni did such a fabulous job,” Toluta’u added.

She recalled from the time Tessi could stand she loved to dance, and joined Aunty Sunday Mariteragi’s halau soon after moving to Laie at age 4. She later joined Uncle John Mariteragi’s Nonosina Hawaii group and has been a PCC Promo Team entertainer since 10th grade. “When Tessi was in the 6th grade, she also won the Miss Cinderella pageant in Honolulu.”

“Everyone in Tonga wants to know who we’re sending from Laie next year,” added Sia Tonga, a PCC emcee who acted as Tessi’s chaperone and taught her the tau’olunga dance for the Miss Heilala pageant.

[Photo courtesy of the Miss South Pacific web site at www.misssouthpacific.ws. More coverage of the event can be found there.]