Miss Tonga, Tessi Leila Toluta'u, was crowned the new Miss South Pacific in Apia, Samoa, on Saturday night.
According to the Samoa Observer, Miss Tonga not only won the crown, she also walked away with the majority of special prizes, winning the National Tourism Award, Best Traditional Wear, Sarong, Talent and Best Interview.Miss Tessi Leila Toluta'u is a 20-year-old Promotional dancer for the Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, Hawaii, and a sophomore at Brigham University studying Social Work with a minor in Psychology. She takes over from Miss South Pacific 2006 and Miss Cook Islands, Krystina Kauvai.
Other awards went to Miss New Zealand, Kyla Hei Hei, for Miss Photogenic, Miss Samoa, Sherry Natalie Elekana, for Miss Internet, Miss Australiana/ Torres Strait Island, Tania Michelle Wieclaw, for Miss Personality and the final placing was:
4th runner up: Miss American Samoa, Wilhelmina Elizabeth Saelu'a
3rd runner up: Miss Australiana, Tania Michelle Wieclaw
2nd runner up: Miss Samoa, Sherry Natalie Elekana
1st runner up: Miss Cook Islands, Joyce Regina Lucia Fortes