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Miss Niue wins Miss South Pacific 2008

Pagopago, AMERICAN SAMOA -Vanessa Marsh, the 23-year-old Miss Niue, was crowned Friday evening as Miss South Pacific in Pago Pago, American Samoa. She won the coveted title during the 22nd Miss South Pacific Pageant held at the H. Rex Lee Auditorium in American Samoa.

First runner up was Miss Samoa, Gwendolyn Pona Tuaitanu; second runner up -- Miss Cook Islands, Anne-Maire Herman; third runner up -- Miss Fiji, Filomena Tuivanualevu; and, fourth runner up – Miss American Samoa, Shanette Pualani Tilo.

Marsh, a fisheries officer with Niue Fisheries Division, Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, received a cash award of $5,000 and many gifts that includes an additional $2,000 cash from local sponsors.

"My job as a fisheries officer has given me the opportunity to be in a position where I am able to contribute nationally and regionally to the ongoing conservation and management of Niue and the region’s marine resources by working directly with local communities, to policy formulation with other Pacific representatives at a regional level, has made me appreciate the strength our region as a whole posses," Marsh said in her bio distributed to the public.

"The marine environment is a deep passion of mine and I enjoy pursuing many marine related activities such as scuba diving and various fishing activities. I was also recently elected president of a NGO called Oma Tafua, dedicated to raising awareness about humpback whales and preserving their iconic status as a cultural entity and ensuring their protective status is not threatened in any way in the Pacific region," she added.

Marsh says she enjoys assisting in a children’s sport program called Tama Mana promoting an active participation in sports and cultivating skills and leadership qualities.

"I am also a presenter for a series of episodes titled “Simply Niue,” which showcases the social, natural and cultural attractions of Niue and enjoy working with the Niue Tourism Office on their tourism promotional projects. I feel that Niuean song and dance is unique and must be maintained and was a member of the Niue group to the Pacific Festival of Arts held here in Pago Pago. I have a strong sense of family well being and as the eldest of three enjoy the warmth of a close bond with my brother and sister and the extended family," she added.

"My goal is to embrace every opportunity that is presented with perseverance and a sense of optimism and to not only share these experiences with others but to learn from their experiences as well," she added.

Courtesy of www.pacificmagazine.net

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