Beyond the crown: Schwenke on redefining Pacific leadership and empowering the youth

It has been almost a month since former Miss Pacific Islands Moemoana Safato’a Schwenke handed over her crown. But, her work in cultural advocacy, storytelling, and empowering Pacific youth is far from over.

In an interview with Tofiga Fepulea’i on Island Time, Schwenke opens up about navigating the immense pressure of following in the footsteps of her mother, who was also a former Miss Sāmoa and Miss Pacific Islands.

“There was also a lot of pressure because she's, as people have told me, a lot of people's favourite Miss Sāmoa and Miss Pacific.

“So there was a lot on my shoulders to kind of carry on her legacy but also pave my own path that is different and unique and is more authentic to who I am.

“But I think I've used that pressure as something positive. So, of course, there's always going to be pressure on Pacific women or Sāmoan women.

“But if we can see the positives in it and see the way that we can keep serving our communities, then we can flip that around.”

Overcoming challenges as a Pacific woman in the public eye

Beyond high expectations, Schwenke also faced public scrutiny, especially in the digital age, where online criticism can be relentless.

"I was really lucky to have my parents and my family support. But also the importance of trying not to look at it because it's always going to be there.

“But if we focus on the positive, focus on the real work, because often the negativity, it stops us from moving forward.”

Schwenke's mother, Maryjane McKibbin won the Miss Sāmoa and Miss Pacific Islands crown 27 years before her daughter. Photo/Moemoana Schwenke Facebook

Cultural identity as leadership

For Schwenke, leadership isn’t just about holding a title. It’s about staying deeply connected to one’s roots.

She often describes culture as a "superpower," emphasising that Pacific youth must embrace their heritage to unlock their full potential.

“I had always pictured it in my mind to be like our people are heroes. And sometimes we're not always painted as heroes in the wider world or in the West.

“But I think if we learn our stories and learn the real, true essence of who we are, we'll continue to see our people as heroes.”

Schwenke recently launched her first book, I Love My Island, a children’s book that aims to raise awareness of the environmental impacts faced by island nations.

Moemoana Schwenke after being crowned Miss Pacific Islands 2024 in Nauru. Photo/Moemoana Schwenke Instagram

“I just want to encourage them to take on the responsibility of being custodian of their community or to be a local hero in their villages and how it's very attainable.

“I think it's the small actions that we do every day.”

The role of traditional knowledge in climate action

As an environmental advocate, Schwenke believes traditional Pacific knowledge is key to addressing climate challenges.

“With a lot of the environmental impacts that we face, our traditional knowledge and our cultural knowledge of our land and how we, you know, work the land and the sea.

Watch Moemoan Schwenke talk more about her book below.

“That is what is sustaining our people right now. It's a power that we have, and we just need to keep tapping into it.”

Expanding the definition of success for Pacific youth

From pageantry to writing, advocacy, and cultural education, Schwenke encourages Pacific youth to redefine success meaningfully.

“Keep using your gifts and talents to share our culture with people all around the world. I think it's so important that we don't just think of growing one leader, one leader cannot save all of us.

Watch Moemoana Schwenke's full interview with Tofiga Fepulea’i below.

“We need a collective group effort from all of us to continue to build our communities. There's been a lot of restlessness and a kind of conflict on social media at the moment, you know, between our communities.

“But I think if we can never lose the essence of who we are and stay connected and stay united, then we can be a better example for our young people because they really need us to be that for them.”