Planet Tonga

I think everyone needs to know that Miss Heilala contestants go through a lot of preparation for this pageant. A lot of them spend a lot of their own personal money, take time off work, school, etc. to participate in the pageant.

It also takes a mental toll on them, having to deal with the media, dignitaries, being paraded, being poked and proded, learning dance numbers at the last minute, being whistled at, being groped by uninvited hands at the Block Party, to name just a few.

Since I was at almost every Miss Heilala event, from dress rehearsals to press events (I skipped the cocktail parties because frankly, they bore me), I got to know some of the girls and the committee members. In addition, I got to witness some, um…..things that were cool and some things that, clearly, were not cool at all.

For example, some contestants were pressured by sponsors to “put out”, i.e. wear clothes that were more revealing. Basically, they wanted them to look like sluts. And if they didn’t comply, the displeasure of the sponsor was immediately felt.

Some sponsors don’t know what it means to sponsor, as many girls paid for their own dresses, gowns, shoes, airfare, hotel, etc.

And some committee members were just downright mean-spirited, talking bad about contestants to the public, or publicly declaring who they think should win or saying that one contestant is a mata’i hoosi or another is mata’i puaka. Yes, sure they were late for rehearsals, but c’mon, can’t you do your business privately?

Oh, here’s another bombshell…..one committee member went up to a contestant and told her she should have won but the scores were changed at the last minute. I told this contestant not to believe this particular person because just a few minutes ago, she was going around publicly declaring who she personally thought will win, and it wasn’t her!

I also have to acknowledge that Misi Sika has organized a committee of hardworking, young individuals in Tonga. I give credit to Misi and his supporting crew, who seemed to really have a grasp for the mission of the Heilala pageant, for all their hard work in organizing not just the pageant but the entire Heilala week festivities.

But, Misi, if you are doing Miss Heilala again next year, for the love of God and for the sanity of Tonga, please cut out the sourpusses. You know who they are. You have a terrific group of committed, young, vibrant people, just like yourself, by your side. Utilize them, tap into their creative minds, their fresh ideas and pour the old, sour milk down the drain.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 1st, 2006 at 4:16 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.