FIJI will champion online safety as a key advocacy platform when it hosts the 2026 Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) in Nadi from February 13-14.
The event marks the nation’s third time as host and reflects the urgent digital challenges facing young Pacific women today.
The decision to prioritise online safety at MPIP comes as women comprise over 60 per cent of all online abuse complaints in Fiji. According to the Online Safety Commission, 22 per cent of Fijian women are frequent targets of image-based abuse, while 30 per cent experience defamatory online attacks, often from fake accounts.
In the Pacific, technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is an emerging crisis. While the region already faces some of the highest rates of offline gender-based violence globally, the rapid increase in digital connectivity has provided new tools for perpetrators to harass, monitor, and target women and girls.
Miss Pacific Islands Pageant director Ana Tuiketei emphasised the critical importance of this focus using the MPIP platform.
“Safety online is as important as safety in the home, in schools and at work,” she said. “When we think be fore we click, we protect privacy, peace of mind, and each other. This theme is not born out of fear, it is born out of hope that together we can create a kinder, safer, and more respectful online community for everyone.”
Fiji has produced three Miss Pacific Islands titleholders and previously hosted the regional celebration in 2009 and 2017.
The 2009 pageant holds particular significance, as home-grown contestant Merewalesi Nailatikau historically claimed the crown, becoming the first Melanesian woman to win the title.
Fiji’s success continued with Alisi Rabukawaqa winning in 2011 and Anne Dunn securing the crown in 2016.
Speaking about Fiji’s return as host nation, Ms Tuiketei expressed deep pride in the opportunity.
“Fiji has a proud history of strong representation in the regional pageant. These three remarkable women have gone on to become leaders in their fields, highlighting the pageant’s role in empowering women and showcasing Pacific talent on the global stage. Hosting the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant for the third time is an honour that allows us to celebrate our Pacific heritage while creating platforms for the next generation of Pacific leaders.”
To ensure contestant welfare throughout the pageant, the Fiji organising committee of MPIP has partnered with the Online Safety Commission and the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection. The commission will provide psychosocial support and resources for contestants navigating intense public attention. The ministry brings essential expertise in addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence and creating protective frameworks for women in public roles.
These partnerships ensure contestants have access to comprehensive support systems and protocols to respond swiftly to any online harassment or abuse.
The committee is developing briefing materials to equip contestants to navigate the digital landscape safely, from managing public profiles to understanding where to turn for help.
By integrating online safety advocacy into the pageant’s framework, Fiji is setting a precedent for how regional events can address shared challenges like TFGBV.
Digital platforms off er unprecedented opportunities for Pacific voices to reach global audiences, but they also require proactive measures to protect those who step into the spotlight.
Tickets for MPIP 2026 will be available soon through the Miss Pacific Islands Facebook page.
