While donning the winner’s tiara would be a dream-come-true for 10-year-old Tapaita Fonokalafi (pictured), the life experiences the South Canterbury youngster will gain from taking part in the Little Miss Aotearoa contest, is worth so much more.
Of Tongan descent, Taipata is the youngest of three siblings, with a love of sport, acting and music, and is one of eight finalists in the 2024 Little Miss Aotearoa contest.
Taipata’s mother Kasanita says she entered her daughter in the newly created pageant after reading its goals, which include fostering self-confidence, encouraging young girls to embrace their unique qualities, and promoting community involvement and environmental consciousness.
“Recognising these positive aims, we knew our daughter would be interested, as we have always encouraged her to explore new opportunities and not be limited by preconceptions or societal expectations,” Kasanita says.
“Contests like this pageant provide a platform for Pacific girls like Tapaita to showcase their talents, intelligence, and unique qualities…they can build self-confidence, recognise their strengths, and feel empowered.”
While being an opportunity for Pacific girls to celebrate and showcase their cultural heritage, Kasanita adds it can foster a sense of pride and connection to their roots, as well as providing the platform to advocate for issues affecting their community.
“It can challenge stereotypes and promote diverse standards of beauty – by showcasing a variety of talents, skills, and backgrounds, these contests can contribute to changing societal perceptions and encouraging acceptance of individual uniqueness.”
To display her culture throughout the contest, Tapaita will be performing a cultural dance for the talent section, and she will wear a costume made from tapa cloth.
Taipata says she has several goals from taking part in the contest – to build a strong sense of self-worth, contribute positively to local or global issues, and personal achievements, to make some lasting memories and new friends.
Little Miss Aotearoa founder and Chief Executive Officer Kogi So says the contest is bucking the trends of traditional pageants, with aims of empowering diverse groups of young people in New Zealand.
“To address the stigma surrounding pageants, our programme focuses on personal development, talent, and community involvement rather than traditional pageant stereotypes,” Kogi says.
“We aim to redefine the concept of pageantry by emphasising inner beauty, intelligence, and cultural pride.”
The pageant offers finalists training in areas such as etiquette, and interview skills, which are transferable to various aspects of life, empowering youth with the tools they need to navigate different situations successfully.
An overall winner will be announced on April 21, at Papa Hou Theatre, in Christchurch.
Visit the Little Miss Aotearoa website for more information.