Miss Island Queen Pageant
Encyclopedia
Miss Island Queen is a fa'afafine
pageant held annually in American Samoa
since 1979. The pageant was established by the American Samoa Island Queens Association, an alliance of the growing fa'afafine population fostering community service aiding to maintain a positive acceptance of fa'afafine's within the Samoan community. Annual pageant proceeds are donated to local charities which have included in the past Lyndon B. Johnson
Medical Center and homes for the elderly in American Samoa and its neighboring sister-country Apia, Samoa
. During the late 1990s power struggles between members corrupted the association resulting towards the expansion of pageant systems unaffiliated with Island Queens. Over the years many of these systems became defunct and new ones were developed, however The American Sevens (7s) founded in 1999 and the Island Queens became the two major fa’afafine associations to dominate the island. In 2010 the two associations united retiring both of its names to be appropriately retooled to S.O.F.I.A.S or Society of Fa’afafine in American Samoa. However organizers agreed to continue its history by honoring past titleholders under the newly established society with the title now renamed to simply Miss S.O.F.I.A.S. It also maintained its system of a yearly elected board and continued its principle of charity work.
~ S.O.F.I.A.S. is established in 2010, Miss Island Queen name is discontinued
Fa'afafine
Fa'afafine may be viewed as a third gender specific to Samoan culture.Fa'afafine are biological males who have a strong feminine gender orientation, which the Samoan parents recognize quite early in childhood. Not always are they raised as female children or rather 'third gender' children...
pageant held annually in American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
since 1979. The pageant was established by the American Samoa Island Queens Association, an alliance of the growing fa'afafine population fostering community service aiding to maintain a positive acceptance of fa'afafine's within the Samoan community. Annual pageant proceeds are donated to local charities which have included in the past Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
Medical Center and homes for the elderly in American Samoa and its neighboring sister-country Apia, Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. During the late 1990s power struggles between members corrupted the association resulting towards the expansion of pageant systems unaffiliated with Island Queens. Over the years many of these systems became defunct and new ones were developed, however The American Sevens (7s) founded in 1999 and the Island Queens became the two major fa’afafine associations to dominate the island. In 2010 the two associations united retiring both of its names to be appropriately retooled to S.O.F.I.A.S or Society of Fa’afafine in American Samoa. However organizers agreed to continue its history by honoring past titleholders under the newly established society with the title now renamed to simply Miss S.O.F.I.A.S. It also maintained its system of a yearly elected board and continued its principle of charity work.
Notable Contestants & Winners
- Cindy Filo was 3rd runner up in 1987’s Miss Island Queen; she became “Cindy of Samoa” a major tourist attraction for her drag revues in Apia, she toured her fa’afafine shows across the South PacificOceaniaOceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
and the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Cindy was the main profile of Heather Croall’s 1999 documentary Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa. In 2008 Cindy was a finalist on the New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
reality show Stars in Their EyesStars In Their EyesStars in Their Eyes is a British television talent show that ran on Saturdays nights from 21 July 1990 until 23 December 2006 in which contestants impersonate showbiz stars...
performing her iconic Tina TurnerTina TurnerTina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
Proud Mary routine.
- Michelle Eneliko a prolific and respected local educator was 1st runner-up in 1990. Eneliko was a fatality victim of the Samoa tsunami that devastated the Samoan islandsSamoan IslandsThe Samoan Islands or Samoa Islands is an archipelago covering in the central South Pacific, forming part of Polynesia and the wider region of Oceania...
on September 29, 2009.
- Miss Island Queen 1993, Shalimar (Atisone Seiuli) became publicized Hollywood media attention in 1997 when she was arrested in the car of Eddie MurphyEddie MurphyEdward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
. She died a year later in a fall from her Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
apartment. In 2003 the scandalous encounter was ranked #61 on E!E!E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
TV's "The Greatest Shocking Moments in Entertainment History".
- Miss Island Queen 1992 Loata Sipili, an RN (registered nurseRegistered nurseA registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
) is currently the highest ranking fa’afafine in American Samoa. Sipili who holds a masters in nursing is the only locally Certified Diabetes EducatorCertified diabetes educatorA certified diabetes educator is a health care professional who is specialized and certified to teach people with diabetes how to manage their condition....
(CDE) with a Board Certification in Advance Management (BCADM) from the American Nurses AssociationAmerican Nurses AssociationThe American Nurses Association is a professional organization to advance and protect the profession of nursing. It started in 1896 as the Nurses Associated Alumnae and was renamed the American Nurses Association in 1911...
; Sipili administers her own clinic with LBJ Medical Center the territory’s only hospital. Loata’s rank succeeds Island Queens Association co-founder Dr. Vena Sele who was dean of student services and later president of ASCC American Samoa Community College. Dr. Sele retired in 2005 and later published her autobiography Memoirs of a Samoan, Catholic and Fa’afafine in 2007.
Past winners
- List of former titleholders for the Miss Island Queen title
Year Miss Island Queen Hometown Village Age # of tries Host Venue 1979 Nancy Olo Fagatogo 1 Herb & Sia's Motel 1981 Marsha Mageo Pago Pago 17 1 Herb & Sia's Motel 1983 Tanya Laumoli Vailoatai 29 1 Tumua Palace Niteclub 1984 Rexene Yandall Atu'u Atu'uAtu'u is a village on Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located on the coast of Pago Pago Harbor, close to the capital, Pago Pago....2 Tumua Palace Niteclub 1985 Shevon Matai Fagatogo 17 1 Herb & Sia's Motel 1987 Tasha Le Atio'o Fagali'i, Samoa SamoaSamoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
/Fagatogo19 1 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...1988 Stacie Titiali'i Alofau AlofauAlofau is a village on the southeast coast of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located at the eastern end of Faga'itua Bay, six miles east of Pago Pago, between Pagai and Amouli....2 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...1989 Julie McEntire (Meleise'a) Leloaloa 21 1 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...1990 Danielle Mose Atu'u Atu'uAtu'u is a village on Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located on the coast of Pago Pago Harbor, close to the capital, Pago Pago....2 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...1991 Cherylmoanamarie 'Cherie' Ripley Leone Leone, American Samoa- Tsunami :Leone was devastated by a tsunami on September 29, 2009. The tsunami was generated by a magnitude 8.0 suboceanic earthquake.- References :...1 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...1992 Loata Sipili Ili'ili 37 1 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...1993 Shalimar (Atisone Seiuli) Mapusaga 17 1 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...1994 Hazel Wells (Talia) Malaeloa 21 3 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...1995 Rachel Ng Lam Apia, Samoa Apia, Samoa-Administration:Apia is part of the Tuamasaga political district and of election district Vaimauga West and Faleata East. There is no city administration for Apia. Apia consists of some 45 individual, independent villages...1 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...1996 Ericha Thompson Pago Pago 28 5 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 1997 Tiffany Diaz (Potasi) Fagatogo 22 3 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...1998 Isabella L. Valentino Apia, Samoa Apia, Samoa-Administration:Apia is part of the Tuamasaga political district and of election district Vaimauga West and Faleata East. There is no city administration for Apia. Apia consists of some 45 individual, independent villages...3 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...2000 Lei Cameron (Fatuesi) Fagatogo 29 2 Pago Bay Ball Room 2001 Lydia Risati Swains Island Swains IslandSwains Island is an atoll in the Tokelau chain. Culturally a part of Tokelau, it is an unincorporated unorganized territory of the United States administered by American Samoa. Swains Island has also been known at various times as Olosenga Island, Olohega Island, Quiros Island, Gente Hermosa...
/Fagatogo30 7 Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker HotelRainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once...2003 Pearl Mata'u Afono AfonoAfono is a village on the northeast coast of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. One of the island's more populous villages, it is located on the edge of Afono Bay, at the eastern edge of the National Park of American Samoa...40 10 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2004 Sheena T. Willis (Ipi Ieli) Aua 37 8 Maliu Mai Beach Resort 2005 Marion Malena (Mageo) Pago Pago 20 2 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2006 Marlo Fuimaono A'oloau A'oloauA'oloau - also called A'oloaufou - is a village in the west of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located inland, five miles southwest of Pago Pago....31 5 Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium 2007 Bianca Yoshimiro (Miscoi) Pago Pago 23 2 Pago Pago Community Center (Tautua Hall) 2008 Princess Amirah (Auva'a) Malaeloa 22 1 Pago Pago Community Center (Tautua Hall) 2009 Didi De'Barge (Afuafi) Malaeloa 28 1 Tradewinds Hotel Tradewinds HotelTradewinds Hotel is a luxury hotel in Fagatogo, American Samoa.The hotel features a 20 acre beachfront and contains 104 guest rooms, 43 suites and 8 large suites. is served by the Equator restaurant which uses inspiration from local Samoan cooking the cook American, European, Pacific and Asian...
~ S.O.F.I.A.S. is established in 2010, Miss Island Queen name is discontinued
| Year | Miss S.O.F.I.A.S. | Hometown Village | Age | # of tries | Host Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Pearl Langkilde | Apia, Samoa Apia, Samoa -Administration:Apia is part of the Tuamasaga political district and of election district Vaimauga West and Faleata East. There is no city administration for Apia. Apia consists of some 45 individual, independent villages... /Leone Leone, American Samoa - Tsunami :Leone was devastated by a tsunami on September 29, 2009. The tsunami was generated by a magnitude 8.0 suboceanic earthquake.- References :... |
1 | Tradewinds Hotel Tradewinds Hotel Tradewinds Hotel is a luxury hotel in Fagatogo, American Samoa.The hotel features a 20 acre beachfront and contains 104 guest rooms, 43 suites and 8 large suites. is served by the Equator restaurant which uses inspiration from local Samoan cooking the cook American, European, Pacific and Asian... |
|
| 2011 | Trina Tui | Ili'ili/Manu'a Islands | 26 | 2 | Tradewinds Hotel Tradewinds Hotel Tradewinds Hotel is a luxury hotel in Fagatogo, American Samoa.The hotel features a 20 acre beachfront and contains 104 guest rooms, 43 suites and 8 large suites. is served by the Equator restaurant which uses inspiration from local Samoan cooking the cook American, European, Pacific and Asian... |
- List of former titleholders for the retired Miss American 7s title honored under history of S.O.F.I.A.S.
| Year | Miss American 7s | Hometown Village | Age | # of tries | Host Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Shevon Matai | Fagatogo | 31 | 1 | Pago Bay Ball Room |
| 2000 | Christina Robinson | Apia, Samoa Apia, Samoa -Administration:Apia is part of the Tuamasaga political district and of election district Vaimauga West and Faleata East. There is no city administration for Apia. Apia consists of some 45 individual, independent villages... |
1 | Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker Hotel Rainmaker Hotel was a 250-room luxury hotel in Utule'i, Pago Pago, American Samoa.It was the only proper hotel in American Samoa and was operated by the government. The hotel was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known as the Pacific's Intercontinental Hotel.The hotel was once... |
|
| 2001 | Tasha Le Atio‘o | Fagalii, Samoa Samoa Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in... /Fagatogo |
33 | 3 | Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium |
| 2002 | Mavis Connery | Apia, Samoa Apia, Samoa -Administration:Apia is part of the Tuamasaga political district and of election district Vaimauga West and Faleata East. There is no city administration for Apia. Apia consists of some 45 individual, independent villages... |
3 | Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium | |
| 2003 | Athena Mauga | Pago Pago | 25 | 1 | Maliu Mai Beach Resort |
| 2004 | Aysha Tomanogi | Nu'uuli | 25 | 1 | Maliu Mai Beach Resort |
| 2005 | Lydia Risati | Fagatogo/Nu'uuli | 33 | 5 | Maliu Mai Beach Resort |
| 2006 | Shiki Spartanz (Leaupepe) | Pago Pago | 26 | 1 | Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium |
| 2007 | Marion Malena (Mageo) | Pago Pago | 22 | 2 | Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium |
| 2008 | Trisyss Ali | Suva, Fiji/Leone Leone, American Samoa - Tsunami :Leone was devastated by a tsunami on September 29, 2009. The tsunami was generated by a magnitude 8.0 suboceanic earthquake.- References :... |
17 | 1 | Governor Rex H. Lee Auditorium |
| 2009 | Samayah Jackson (Tualaulelei) | Pago Pago | 19 | 1 | Tradewinds Hotel Tradewinds Hotel Tradewinds Hotel is a luxury hotel in Fagatogo, American Samoa.The hotel features a 20 acre beachfront and contains 104 guest rooms, 43 suites and 8 large suites. is served by the Equator restaurant which uses inspiration from local Samoan cooking the cook American, European, Pacific and Asian... |