Miss Island Queen (now Miss SOFIAS) is a faʻafafine pageant held annually in American Samoa. It is noted for being the longest standing pageant of its kind in the South Pacific. It was first held in 1979 before undergoing a series of changes. No pageant was held in 1980 and 1982 as it endured shifts in ownership and in 2020 and 2022 due to the covid pandemic. It was canceled in 1986 due to a tropical cyclone and failed to take place in both 1999 and 2002 when it struggled with funding. In 1996 It was held simultaneously on the same evening as another faʻafafine pageant Empress of Samoa. In 2008 the pageant coincided with the Festival of Pacific Arts and became the closing event of festivities. After undergoing extensive reestablishment in 2010 the pageant has since been held during Flag Day week and broadcast live on KVZK-2. It is now known as Miss SOFIAS and maintains yearly advocacy and charity programs.
History
The pageant began as a marketing show for Herb & Sia's motel, a family owned business, which, in its heyday, was a staple for Polynesian revues and local musicians. A gathering of faʻafafines shepherd by educators Leroy Lutu and Vena Sele led to pioneering the first fully organized beauty pageant in 1981. It came to prominence in the late 1980s when organizers incorporated educational awareness, community service and charitable causes in both American Samoa and neighboring Apia, Samoa. Governor A. P. Lutali was the first territorial leader to officially support the pageant in 1987 in years that followed numerous local dignitaries and politicians became fixtures at the event. The pageant was hugely successful by 1990 it spawned a faʻafafine performance troupe. The troupe entertained across the islands at public ceremonies and private events popularizing a streak of song and dance routines among them the apartheid anthem Gimme Hope Jo'anna, music from the soundtrack of Sarafina! and Samba in the night by Daniel Rae Costello many selections were opening themes of past island queen pageants. Power struggles corrupted the pageant in the mid-1990s resulting in the exploitation of faʻafafines in countless beauty pageants publicized for financial gain. Vena Sele and Leroy Lutu harbored creative differences and parted ways. Lutu went on to establish "Empresses of Samoa" and "Mizz Corona" pageants and Sele continued with Island Queens before leading "Miss American Sevens". American Sevens was originally operated under a netball association but at the height of its success became known as Seven Islands of American Samoa.
In the 2000s Miss American Sevens and Miss Island Queens pageants dominated the territory. In 2010 American Sevens and Island Queens communally retired uniting to become S.O.F.I.A.S (Society of Faʻafafine in American Samoa). Organizers also preserved history honoring past winners under its retooled name. Three distinctive awards were awarded during the history of both pageants. In 2000 high chief Tiumalu Sia Scanlan was presented with a special award, in 2006 longtime serving member Rosie Moimoi was recognized by Island Queens and in 2005 founder Vena Sele was honored by the American Sevens for her legacy and service to both the faʻafafine community and her pioneering career. Sele was the first fa'afafine to earn a doctorate degree, for a short term Sele was president of American Samoa Community College becoming the highest ranking fa'afafine at the time. Sele retired in 2005 and in 2007 published her autobiography "Memoirs of a Samoan, Catholic and Fa’afafine". Sele is widely known to have inspired many fa'afafines to pursue education many of whom affectionately call her "Mama". Sele lives in Tacoma, WA. Leroy Lutu rose to great success with the Department of Education and retired in 2011. He was a popular local personality well known for his fashionable taste and socialite status. In 2008 both Sele and Lutu returned for the 25th anniversary of Miss Island Queens it was their last time together on stage. Lutu died in 2012.
Notable contestants and winners
Cindy Filo was 3rd runner up in 1987's Miss Island Queen. Filo became “Cindy of Samoa” Samoa's first ever faʻafafine celebrity attracting tourism and fans for her drag revues in Apia. Filo toured her shows across the South Pacific and the United States. Cindy was profiled in Heather Croall's 1999 documentary Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa. In 2008 Cindy was a finalist on the New Zealand reality show Stars in Their Eyes. She is profiled in Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand section on faʻafafine. Michelle Eneliko was a prolific local educator who was 1st runner-up for Miss Island Queen 1990. Eneliko was among the fatality victims of the Samoa tsunami that devastated the Samoan islands on September 29, 2009. Miss Island Queen 1993, Shalimar (Atisone Seiuli) gained national media exposure in 1997 when she was arrested while in the company of Hollywood star Eddie Murphy. The incident was publicized by tabloid magazines, TV shows and parodied on Mad TV and SNL resulting in several lawsuits brought on by Murphy and his lawyers. Seiuli died in Los Angeles reportedly in an accidental fall from her apartment building in 1998. In 2003 the scandal was ranked #61 on E! TV's "The Greatest Shocking Moments in Entertainment History". Rachael Ng Lam Miss Island Queen 1995 appeared in the 2011 sequel to the popular Samoan film “Tautoga Gaosia” playing herself. Miss Island Queen 1992 Loata Sipili is currently the highest ranking faʻafafine in American Samoa. Sipili is the only locally Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and administers the diabetes care and prevention clinic within LBJ Tropical Medical Center the territory's only hospital.
Past winners Miss Island Queen titleholders include: Year Miss Island Queen Hometown Village Age Host Venue 1979 Nancy Olo Fagatogo 19 Herb & Sia's Motel 1981 Marsha Mageo Taputimu 17 Herb & Sia's Motel 1983 Tanya Laumoli Vailoatai 29 Tumua Palace Nightclub 1984 Rexinne Yandall Atu'u 22 Tumua Palace Nightclub 1985 Shevon Matai Fagatogo 17 Herb & Sia's Motel 1987 Tasha Le Atio'o Fagatogo 19 Rainmaker Hotel 1988 Stacie Titiali'i Alofau 22 Rainmaker Hotel 1989 Julie McEntire (Meleiseā) Leloaloa 21 Rainmaker Hotel 1990 Danielle Mose Atu'u 25 Rainmaker Hotel 1991 Cherylmoanamarie 'Cherie' Ripley Leone 38 Rainmaker Hotel 1992 Loata Sipili Ili’ili 37 Rainmaker Hotel 1993 Atisone Shalimar Seiuli Mapusaga 17 Rainmaker Hotel 1994 Hazel Wells (Talia) Malaeloa 21 Rainmaker Hotel 1995 Rachael Ng Lam Apia, Samoa 29 Rainmaker Hotel 1996 Ericha Thompson Pago Pago 28 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 1997 Tiffany Diaz (Potasi) Fagatogo 22 Rainmaker Hotel 1998 Isabella Lorda Valentino Apia, Samoa 25 Rainmaker Hotel 2000 Lei Cameron (Fatuesi) Fagatogo 29 Pago Bay Restaurant 2001 Lydia Risati Fagatogo 30 Rainmaker Hotel 2003 Pearl Mata'u Afono 40 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2004 Sheena T. Willis (Ipi Ieli) Aua 37 Maliu Mai Beach Resort 2005 Marion Malena (Mageo) Pago Pago 20 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2006 Marlo Fuimaono Aoloau 31 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2007 Bianca Yoshimiro (Miscoi) Pago Pago 23 Pago Pago Community Center (Tautua Hall) 2008 Princess Arrianna Auva'a Malaeloa 22 Pago Pago Community Center (Tautua Hall) 2009 Didi De'Barge (Afuafi) Malaeloa 28 Tradewinds Hotel
Miss American Sevens titleholders include: Year Miss American 7s Hometown Village Age Host Venue 1999 Shevon Matai Fagatogo 31 Pago Bay Ball Restaurant 2000 Christina Robinson Apia, Samoa Rainmaker Hotel 2001 Tasha Le Atio‘o Fagatogo 33 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2002 Mavis O’Connery (Mulitalo) Apia, Samoa Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2003 Athena Mauga Pago Pago 25 Maliu Mai Beach Resort 2004 Aysha Tomanogi Nuʻuuli 25 Maliu Mai Beach Resort 2005 Lydia Risati Fagatogo 33 Maliu Mai Beach Resort 2006 Shiki Leaupepetele Atu'u 26 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2007 Marion Malena (Mageo) Pago Pago 22 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2008 Trisyss Ali Leone 17 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2009 Samayah Jackson (Tualaulelei) Pago Pago 19 Tradewinds Hotel
S.O.F.I.A.S. titleholders: Year Miss S.O.F.I.A.S. Hometown Village Age Host Venue 2010 Pearl Langkilde Apia, Samoa Tradewinds Hotel 2011 Trina Tui Ili'ili 26 Tradewinds Hotel 2012 Tepatasi Vaina Aoloau 25 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2013 Roberta Fierce Laumoli Vailoatai 24 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium2014 Saumaeafe Maya Aphrodite Blaque (Ierome) Tula 38 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium2015 Arykah Contess Fonoti Aoloau & Aasu 33 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium2016 Jayleen Von-Shmidt Chun Leone 39 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium2017 Eden Brown Iliili 27 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium2018 Valentana Faumuina Leone 28 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium2019 Vanessa Simanu Ta'amu Utumea (East) 30 Fatuoaiga Catholic Hall2021 Aruni Talaifaga Nu’uuli 30 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium2023 Christian Wright Sa’alea Matu’u & Faganeanea 32 Department of Youth & Women's Affairs Gym, Tafuna
Runners-Up [Miss SOFIAS Title] +Year1st Runner Up2nd Runner Up3rd Runner Up4th Runner Up2010Maya Aphrodite Blaque JeromeAra-Lei Mahealani YandallKiesha ColeNot Awarded2011Roberta Fierce LaumoliDavina Wallace (Ualesi)Not AwardedNot Awarded2012Jayleen ChunTallahassee MaugaNot AwardedNot Awarded2013Antoneesha MisaJaynah Karter(Muao)Moesha BirdNot Awarded2014Arykah FonotiViva La Juicy MaheAnse Raphael(Lafaele)Not Awarded2015Chrystahl Portia FisoDessy Mua'avaAnnie OloAlanna Fizz Gore2016Miah ManuleleuaDavina Wallace(Ualesi)Christian Wright SaaleaNot Awarded2017Aruni TalaifagaValentana FaumuinaLima SchwenkeFrancine Tuutatau2018Ara-Lei Mahealani YandallMikaela SaeluaDezonikah MichaelsIsabella Ah-Mu Mageo2019CeCe IavaiDezonikah MichaelsMicay De La CruzAruni Talaifaga2021Uni DanielsDessy Mua’avaAmeliah LafaeleJaimie Laurette2023Vashley MulitaloKandii Lei FanoluaKaren Kalani Tu’ese SekaiNot Awarded
References
External links Autobiography of prominent Samoan fa'afafine educator Dr. Vena Sele
2008 pageant photos 2009 pageant photos