‘Showing my braveness’: Miss Young Tonga’s a finalist in NZ pageant

A seven-year-old West Aucklander proudly representing the Kingdom of Tonga is taking on a new adventure - the New Zealand Little Miss beauty pageant.

She is Faith ‘Ofeina-He-Lotu Matalave and just last year was crowned Miss Young Tonga.

Faith, accompanied by mum Ola Matalave, spoke with PMN Tonga host John Pulu about what emboldened them to enter into the Little Miss and Mister Aotearoa New Zealand contest.

“I’m just inspired by little kids, how they always show confidence and never fear,” she said.

“How they just believe in themselves, like they’re never shy to just show what they have, and they are always strong and bold to go on stage and show what they have in them.

“That’s why I want to join the pageant.”

Matalave said they felt even more motivated after they watched Pulu’s interview with Little Miss Aotearoa and Little Miss Universe winner Tapaita Fonokalafi, also Tongan, earlier this year.

“That’s where it came from,” she laughs, “and because of that video we were like, ‘wow! Let’s look further into this and let’s pursue it’.”

Now in its second year running, the pageant aims to be a space of empowerment for girls, fostering their confidence, promoting positivity, and shaping future leaders.

An integral part to this particular pageant is the charitable work and this year contestants are fundraising for Starship Children’s Hospital.

Tongan beauties - Little Miss Universe Tapaita Fonokalafi and Faith Matalave met at a recent kid's fashion show runway audition in Auckland. Photo/Ola Matalave

Ola, who is a devoted solo mum, says the contest helps young girls and boys unify with their communities and learn to become good role models.

“People, when they hear the word ‘pageant’ they think it’s all about fashion or beauty. However… it’s actually 40 percent about working with the community, connecting with the people, getting out there volunteering, and doing charity work.”

For the Matalave mother and daughter duo representing their Tongan culture and heritage is that added bit of spark for Faith as she prepares for her campaign.

“(It’s) such a unique, amazing, beautiful vibrant culture, so we have the privilege to go and represent MMT and New Zealand.”

Finalists have been selected from right across the motu and the official campaign begins in October.

Pageant day will be in Christchurch in early February 2025 where the top placegetters will head to the Little Miss Universe pageant in Turkey in April.

In the lead-up to the crowning event, Faith is filling up her entrepreneurial experiences and hopes to volunteer at Pacific businesses across Tāmaki Makaurau.

Faith says there’s plenty to look forward to and she’s ready to get going.

“I’m looking forward to how pageant girls get to travel, but mostly I’m looking forward to showing my braveness and also meeting new people.”