Feature - With the Miss Samoa Pageant just weeks away, reigning titleholder Litara Ieremia-Allan is preparing to pass on her crown.
But before she does, she has a message for the young women who want to take on the role.
"Know who you are - that can come with the journey, but having a strong sense of who you are will be your guiding compass."
Ieremia-Allan spoke to RNZ Pacific earlier this month about her time as Miss Samoa.
She had several pieces of advice for young women as this year's pageant date of 27 October approached. These included being open to feedback as well as "enjoy everyday as it comes".
"Speaking from experience, when you're preparing, you want to get to the end destination, but every day, you're learning something as a young tama'ita'i Samoa [Sāmoan woman].
"You're learning how to lead, you're learning how to listen, you're learning how to juggle duties."
Ieremia-Allan said this was all part of her pageantry journey, which she believed epitomised what it meant to be a young tama'ita'i Samoa. She highlighted the importance of service, and love for family and culture.
"Tama'ita'i Samoa are tasked with being the 'pae ma le āuli' - they're tasked with looking after the elderly, they're tasked with cooking, they're tasked with village leadership, they're tasked with looking after the youth.
"This role is just another expression of that and so understanding that that's what you are here to express in your own way is really important.
"You're not here for a show, you're here to serve."
Ieremia-Allan said leading the Anofale mentoring and leadership programme, and producing a podcast were highlights of the past year.
"I think it [the Anofale programme] really grounded me in the local issues in Samoa.
"As someone who grew up in the diaspora and always came back home but never fully lived here for a long time, it's a reminder that you don't know it all, and it's a great reminder to be humble and learn."
Miss Samoa 2024, Litara Ieremia-Allan Photo: RNZ Pacific
Ieremia-Allan also touched on challenges that came with being in the public eye.
"I was a very private person before [and] it took me a while to get used to sharing my life with everyone."
She also credited her family for their unwavering support and advice around her public duties, particularly when she felt overwhelmed and uncertain.
"My late Auntie Peone, who is very beloved here in Samoa by many, she quickly messaged me one night…and said: 'Oh darling, you have too much light to share to stay in the dark.'"
The message meant the world, Ieremia-Allan said.
" That's such a picture of what our youth are capable of, right? They have so much light to share, but they just need that one person or…encouragement to share what they have.
"I'm really grateful that people have believed in me, and from that, I've been able to step out and get a bit more confident."
Miss Samoa, left, and Miss Tonga. Photo: Facebook/Miss Heilala Festival/Manoa Media
She also summed her reign up in three words: "Humbling, courage, duty."
Meanwhile, this year's Miss Samoa Pageant is due to take place on October 27 in Apia. It was postponed from its initial September date to avoid clashing with the country's election season.
The Teuila festival - where the pageant normally features - was cancelled.
