The Solomon Islands will not be participating in the upcoming Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) 2026, which will be hosted in Nadi, Fiji.
The event will run from the 13th to the 20th of next month.
Speaking to the Solomon Star, Joyce Konofilia, the Pageant Director of the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant (MSIP) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Solomon Host Event, explained that the decision was due to events that transpired after the MPIP crowning night in Honiara on February 8th last year, when Solomon Islands hosted the MPIP 2025.
“It is because of what happened in the last pageant,” Ms Konofilia said.
She added that her team had reached out to the Ministry of Home Affairs with inquiries about the continuation of the MSIP but had not received any response.
“We have waited the whole year (2025), but the ministry has not responded to us,” she said.
“We cannot override the government on this matter, so we waited for them to clear their part in the situation.
“However, we have not heard anything from them until today,” she continued.
Following the crowning of the current Miss Pacific Islands, Litara Ieremia-Alan, allegations of judging fraud surfaced, including vote discrepancies that appeared to favor Miss Tonga 2025, Racheal Guttenbeil.
These claims led to a police investigation into “alleged fraudulent activities” by the pageant judges.
Isikeli Vave Junior, Minister of Home Affairs, raised concerns about vote tampering and issued a “stop notice” to detain the judges, preventing them from leaving Honiara while statements were taken.
As a result of these issues, the Solomon Islands did not hold a MSIP contest last year, meaning the country will not send a representative to the MPIP 2026 in Fiji.
This year, Fiji is once again hosting the MPIP after a seven-year gap. Confirmed participants for the MPIP 2026 are:
- Miss Fiji – Peggy Ravuisiro
- Miss Papua New Guinea – Iampela Popena
- Miss Samoa – Feagaimaali’I Soti Mapu
- Miss American Samoa – Tofoipupu Unutoa
- Miss Tonga – Sioai’ana Patricia Taumoepeau
- Miss Micronesia (Kiribati) – Atiterentaai Rinimarawa
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
Lead photo caption: MPIP 2026, Nadi, Fiji. Photo source-MPIP 2026 Facebook page.
