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Miss Cook Islands

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Miss Cook Islands Association (MCIA)
Maine Kuki Airani
Formation1960
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersAvarua
Location
Membership
Official language
English
President
Dianna Clarke-Bates
Websitewww.misscookislands.com

The Miss Cook Islands is the national beauty pageant in the Cook Islands in under Miss Cook Islands Association (MCIA). The current reigning titleholder is Tajiya Sahay who was crowned in October 2019.[1]

History

Early

The Maine Kuki Airani (Miss Cook Islands) national pageant was held for the first time in 1960 and was usually happening in every two years.[citation needed] In the Miss Cook Islands pageant, beauty encompasses physical attributes and qualities that are seen to represent the community at large; respectability, talent and commitment to Cook Islands value. An yet, competing for the representative role of Miss Cook Islands necessitates that the participants negotiate contradictory moral proscriptions that define Cook Islands femininity.[2]

International competitions

In 1998 the Miss Cook Islands franchised the Miss Universe and Miss South Pacific licenses. The Miss Cook Islands was patronized by Pa Te Ariki Upokotini Marie and Ui Ariki. Between 1983 and 1999 the Miss Cook Islands winners went to the Miss Universe competition.

Today, Miss Cook Islands is patronised by the First Lady - Mrs Akaiti Puna - the wife of Prime Minister - Hon. Henry Puna. Miss Cook Islands Association ('MCIA') is a non-profit organisation that owns and operates the Miss Cook Islands Pageant, based on Rarotonga, the Cook Islands. It has evolved into a professionally operated pageant with a passion & focus on developing young Cook Islands women to be the best versions of themselves; and giving them opportunities to showcase their talent & skill on a world stage.

'Identity & Heritage' are the core themes of Miss Cook Islands as the pageant strives to ignite cultural pride & self-worth in Cook Islands youth. The main sponsors of the pageant include the Government of the Cook Islands and the largest companies in the Cook Islands. [3][4] Every year the Miss Cook Islands prepares the Top 3 to Miss World, Miss International and Miss Grand International competitions. 2018, 2nd Runner up will represent the country at Miss Grand International; 1st Runner up will represent the country at Miss International; Miss Cook Islands will represent the country at Miss World. 2020 will see the return of Miss Cook Islands to Miss Universe, in addition to Miss World and Miss Grand International 2020. Miss Cook Islands 2019 Coronation is scheduled for Saturday 26 October 2019 at the National Auditorium at Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

Titleholders

Year Miss Cook Islands[5]
1960 June Taringa (Baudinet)
1961 Tara Utanga (Scott)
1972 Joanna Taria Rere
1973 Ina Manuel Karika
1979 Ellena Tavioni
1980 Moari Luka-Fortes
1981 Celine Tommy
1982 Carmena Blake (Wong)
1983 Margaret Brown (Numanga)
1984 Essie Apolonia Mokotupu
1985 Lorna Sawtell
1986 Michelle Leone Oberg
1988 Annie Wigmore
1989 Angela Manarangi
1990 Raema Chitty
1991 Jeannine Tuavera (Piri)
1993 Leilani Brown
1994 Tarita Brown
1995 Victoria (Vicky) Keil
1998 Tina Marie Vogel
2000 Louisa Mayor Browne
2002 Donna Tuarra
2004 Noovai Tylor
2006 Krystina Te-Rangi Elizabeth Kauvai
2009 Engara Melanie Amanda Gosselin
2012 Teuira Napa
2014 Felicia Rose George
2015 Natalia Short
2016 Lydia Simonis Tariu
2017 Alanna Smith
2018 Reihana Koteka-Wiki
2019 Tajiya Eikura Sahay

International pageants representatives

  •   : Declared as Winner
  •   : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
  •   : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
  •   : Ended as special awards winner

Miss World Cook Islands

The Miss Cook Islands wears the title of Miss World Cook Islands. She will yearly represent her country at the annual Miss World competition.
Year Miss World Cook Islands Placement at Miss World Special Awards Notes
2025 TBA
Did not compete between 2000—2024
2019 Tajiya Eikura Sahay[6] Top 12 Miss World Oceania
2018 Reihanna Maire Koteka-Wiki[7] Top 30
2017 Alanna Matamaru Matenga Smith Unplaced
2016 Natalia Asinata Simahite Short Top 20 Miss World Sports
Did not compete between 1991 — 2015
1990 Angela Manarang Unplaced
1989 Did not compete
1988 Annie Wigmore Unplaced
1987 Michelle Leone Oberg Unplaced

Miss Universe Cook Islands

Miss Cook Islands has started to send a winner to Miss Universe from 1983—1999. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.
Year Miss Universe Cook Islands Placement at Miss Universe Special Awards Notes
2024 TBA
Did not compete between 2000—2023
1999 Tina Vogel Unplaced
Did not compete between 1997—1998
1996 Victoria Keil Unplaced
1995 Tarita Brown Unplaced
1994 Leilani Brown Unplaced
Did not compete in 1993
1992 Jeannine Tuavera Unplaced
1991 Raema Chitty Unplaced
Did not compete between 1987—1990
1986 Lorna Sawtell Unplaced
1985 Essie Apolonia Mokotupu Unplaced
1984 Margaret Brown Unplaced
1983 Carmena Blake Unplaced

Miss Grand Cook Islands

Miss Cook Islands acquired the license of Miss Grand Cook Islands in 2018, and the 2nd runner-up of that year's competition, Teau Moana McKenzie, was assigned to compete in the international tournament in Myanmar.[8][9]
Year Miss Grand Cook Islands Original National Title Placement at Miss Grand International Special Awards
No representatives between 2020—Present
2019 Pearl Lazaro[10] 2nd runner-up Miss Cook Islands 2019[10] Did not compete
2018 Teau Moana McKenzie[8][9] 2nd runner-up Miss Cook Islands 2018[9] Unplaced[11]

Miss Earth Cook Islands

Year Miss Earth Cook Islands Placement at Earth Special Awards Notes
Did not compete since 2018 — Present
2017 Mona Louisa Taio Unplaced
2016 Allanah Keri Herman-Edgar Unplaced
Did not compete between 2013 — 2015
2012 Teuira Raechel Napa Unplaced

References

  1. ^ "MISS COOK ISLANDS 2019 - TAJIYA SAHAY". The Coconet. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  2. ^ Alexeyeff, Kalissa (18 October 2018). Dancing from the Heart: Movement, Gender, and Cook Islands Globalization. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824832445. Retrieved 18 October 2018 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Matariki Wilson. "Miss Cook Islands prepares for Miss World". Cookislandnews.com. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Strong line up for Miss Cook Islands title". Cookislandnews.com. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  5. ^ Melina Etches (28 September 2018). "Miss Cook Islands: 'Don't be pretentious'". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  6. ^ Jonathan Milne (14 December 2019). "Miss Cook Islands Tajiya Sahay top 12 in Miss World 2019". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  7. ^ Tema Hemi (9 December 2018). "Miss Cook Islands Koteka-Wiki places Top 30 in the World". Te Ao Māori. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  8. ^ a b Rashneel Kumar (10 October 2018). "McKenzie in Myanmar for Miss Grand International". Cook Islands News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Thanh Tuyền (23 September 2018). "Nữ vận động viên Olympic đăng quang 'Miss Grand Cook islands 2018'" (in Vietnamese). Thanh Niên. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Congratulations to alumna Pearl Lazaro". Mount Roskill Grammar School. 28 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-02-05. Retrieved 21 September 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  11. ^ "Meenakshi Chaudhary from India wins 1st runner-up title at Miss Grand International 2018". Times of India. 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.