A question that has lingered since last year’s Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) controversy—whether Tonga would continue to participate again may finally be answered this week, after the Solomon Islands confirmed its dramatic boycott.
The dispute surrounding the MPIP centres on allegations that Samoan head judge Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt tampered with votes during the February 2025 event in Honiara.
Critics argue that this resulted in Miss Samoa being crowned, when the title should instead have gone to Miss Tonga, Racheal Guttenbeil.
According to the Solomon Star, the apparent lack of response from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the operation of the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant following the dispute contributed to the decision to withdraw.
Joyce Konofilia, Pageant Director of the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant and Chief Executive Officer of Solomon Host Event, confirmed to the paper that the withdrawal was linked to last year’s dispute.
“We have waited the whole year (2025), but the ministry has not responded to us,” she said.
“We cannot override the government on this matter, so we waited for them to clear their part in the situation.
“However, we have not heard anything from them until today.”
Brunt was accused of manipulating score sheets to secure Miss Samoa Litara Ieremia-Allan’s victory. Both Brunt and the pageant’s international board have denied the accusations.
Then Tonga Tourism chief executive Viliami Takau told Kaniva News at the time that the kingdom was considering withdrawing from the pageant over concerns about its integrity.
To date, however, no official decision has been announced regarding Tonga’s participation in the 2026 pageant, scheduled to be held in Fiji next month.
The Tongan Tourism Authority was approached for comment.
The Solomon Star, however, also reported that Tonga is among the six confirmed participants and identified Miss Tonga Siosi’ana Patricia Taumoepeau as the kingdom’s representative.
The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, established by the Government of Samoa in 1987 as the Miss South Pacific Pageant, was created to celebrate the intelligence, talent, and culture of Pacific women.
Over time, it has expanded its focus to represent the wider Pacific region and promote regional unity. Samoa maintains a strong historical connection to the event, with its winners frequently serving as cultural ambassadors on the regional stage.
Confirmed participants for the MPIP 2026, according to the Star, are:
- Miss Fiji – Peggy Ravuisiro
- Miss Papua New Guinea – Iampela Popena
- Miss Samoa – Feagaimaali’I Soti Mapu
- Miss American Samoa – Tofoipupu Unutoa
- Miss Tonga – Siosi’ana Patricia Taumoepeau
- Miss Micronesia (Kiribati) – Atiterentaai Rinimarawa
