Solomon Islands pulls out of Miss Pacific Pageant - committee

The Solomon Islands will not take part in the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2026 in Fiji, citing unresolved issues linked to last year’s pageant in Honiara and ongoing concerns raised by organisers about transparency and fairness in judging.

The decision was confirmed by the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant Committee in a public statement issued on 7 January. It follows controversy surrounding the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2025, which the Solomon Islands hosted.

At the centre of the dispute is Sāmoan judge Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt, who was accused by Solomon Islands organisers of manipulating scores during the final count, allegedly to favour Miss Sāmoa, Litara Ieremia-Allan, who went on to win the title.

Brunt has denied the allegations and the Miss Pacific Islands organising committee later announced that it found no wrongdoing on his part.

Despite this, Solomon Islands organisers say the matter was never properly addressed.

“Our Government invested a lot of resources in the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2025. It was one of the biggest pageants so far,” the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant Committee statement read.

Solomon Islands National Parliament. The nation's pageant organisers say issues raised after the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2025 have not been adequately addressed. Photo/Supplied

The committee says the Solomon Islands, as the host nation in 2025, covered the costs of contestants, delegates, and the reigning Miss Pacific Islands, Moemoana Schwenke from Sāmoa, and her team throughout the event.

“However, the incident that transpired on the final crowning night, which [our committee says] implicated the head judge from Sāmoa .... marred all our hard work and efforts to deliver a fair and ethical pageant,” the statement added.

The committee says the judge had not acted transparently during the final votes, adding it was not adequately addressed by the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant board.

“It is sad that the board has decided to push the issue under the carpet,” the statement read, warning that the pageant should never become a platform for “biasness, nepotism and colourism”.

The committee says it would follow advice from the Solomon Islands Minister of Home Affairs not to participate in the 2026 pageant “until further notice”.

Miss Solomon Islands Pageant Director and Solomon Host Event CEO Joyce Konofilia confirmed the withdrawal, telling Solomon Star News the decision was directly linked to events after the crowning night on 8 February last year.

“It is because of what happened in the last pageant,” Konofilia says. “We sought guidance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, but we received no response throughout 2025.”

Following the crowning of Miss Sāmoa, allegations of vote discrepancies were raised, with some reports suggesting scores may have favoured Miss Tonga 2025, Racheal Guttenbeil.

The matter led to a police investigation into alleged fraudulent activity, and the Minister of Home Affairs issued a stop notice preventing judges from leaving the country while inquiries were carried out.

The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant brings together contestants from across the Pacific and is set to return to Fiji in 2026 after a seven-year break. Photo/https://www.eventfinda.co.nz

Fiji announces change to its representative

The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant will return to Fiji next month after a seven-year break.

Confirmed contestants include Miss Sāmoa Feagaimaali’i Soti Mapu, Miss Fiji Ailava Samuels, Miss Papua New Guinea Iampela Popena, Miss American S`amoa Tofoipupu Unutoa, Miss Tonga Sioai’ana Patricia Taumoepeau, and Miss Micronesia (Kiribati) Atiterentaai Rinimarawa.

Fiji will be represented by Samuels, who finished as First Runner-up at the country's recent national pageant. The winner, Dr Peggy Ravusiro, has agreed to the change, the Miss Fiji Pageant announced on Monday.

Pageant director Ana Tuiketei told reporters Ravusiro could not agree to a contract with the committee.

"Today, the Miss Fiji Secretariat officially confirmed that Miss Fiji 2025 First Runner-Up, Ailava Samuels, will represent Fiji at the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2026, set to take place next month in Nadi," Tuiketei says.

"Ailava steps forward with grace, courage and humility, ready to carry Fiji onto the regional stage with strength, integrity, and heart. Let’s rally behind her. Let’s lift her. Let’s show the Pacific what Fiji is made of. Congratulations Ailava, Fiji stands with you."

Watch Ana Tuiketei's address to the media below.

The Miss Solomon Islands Pageant Committee thanked former Miss Solomon Islands Elsie Polosovai for representing the country in 2025 and expressed hope for a future Miss Melanesia pageant.

As of Monday, 12 January, the withdrawal decision still stands and no public update or reversal has been published by the Solomon Islands Pageant Committee.