Miss CI third in Fiji event

Thursday December 14, 2017 Written by Rashneel Kumar

Miss Cook Islands Ernestina Bonsu-Maro fi nished third runner-up at the Miss Pacifi c Islands 2017 last week. 17121304

The event which ended on Friday, saw Bonsu-Maro, who has maternal links to Pukapuka, finishing on fourth place.

Miss American Samoa Matauaina Gwendolyn To’omalatai claimed the Miss Pacific Islands 2017 crown while the first runner-up title went to Miss Samoa Alexandra Iakopo.

Miss Fiji Hally Qaqa took home the second runner-up prize followed by Bonsu-Maro while the fourth runner-up place was won by Miss Rapa Nui Tiare Pakarati.

The 22-year-old New Zealand-based, Bonsu-Maro, who was runner-up in the Miss Cook Islands Pageant, said her experience at Miss Pacific 2017 had opened up opportunities for her to gain more wisdom, heart, knowledge, faith, courage and “reality”.

“It has encouraged me to be a sponge and soak up every interaction; every moment I had with everyone I met – young, old, black or white. (I) enjoyed every moment,” Bonsu-Maro posted on Facebook.

“To my Pasifika sisters, thank you for the love, laughs and everything. We all inherited so much from our journey. This was not a competition for us but a platform to bring attention to the issues around our Pasifika regions to help maintain and sustain our futures.

“We still have a lot of work to do for our people, to serve and to keep serving.”

Bonsu-Maro thanked her team and the supporters for making her journey at the regional pageant event an enjoyable one and dedicated her prize to them.

http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/local/item/66983-miss-ci-third-in-fiji-event