A 21-year-old New Zealand-born Tongan beauty contestant said joining Miss Apraxus 2019 helped her overcame her nervousness and shyness.
Miss Salome Liekina He Ofa Vaiangina is representing the Nasita Production in the competition.
She said she had learnt a lot from what she had gone through since the competition began last month. Each of the five contestants has staged a fundraising night to help fund their involvement and participation.
Miss Vaiangina said she was proud of her Tongan culture and the competition was a good chance for her to learn more about how to perform Tongan dancing.
She is studying tourism and pursuing her dream of becoming a flight attendant.
Her hobbies are singing and dancing.
She said she felt proud after she was invited to take part in the competition. The winner and the rest of the competitors will travel to Tonga to compete at the Miss Heilala 2019 contest.
“I was happy at first knowing that someone has sponsored me,” she told Kaniva news.
“I learn a lot like confidence.”
She said when the competition began and when it came to her turn to have her fundraising night she started to feel the heat knowing many people would watch her while performing on stage.
“I was very nervous. I just wanted to hold a smile,” she said.
Miss Vaiangina said she was glad to represent the Nasita Production and would like to promote its services.
The company had been serving the Pacific community in New Zealand for about five years designing T-shirts and providing video recording services.
Vaiangina, who is from Manaunga He Lotu and Talafo’ou in Tonga, came from a family of 11 siblings.
Her father Tongo Fionoa Vaiangina died in 2015, but Miss Vaiangina never forgot how he was proud of her.
She was tearful and repeatedly tried to compose herself during the interview when she was talking about her father.
Her mother Lile, who was attending the interview, said her kāinga recalled how Tongo Fionoa was proud of his children and they said it could have been a different story if he was still alive to see his daughter joining the competition.
Tongo Fionoa was instrumental in establishing the Church of Tonga in Papakura which celebrates its 10 anniversary this year.
The main points
- A 21-year-old New Zealand-born Tongan beauty contestant said joining Miss Apraxus 2019 helped her overcame her nervousness and shyness.
- Miss Salome Liekina He Ofa Vaiangina is representing the Nasita Production in the competition.
