Reigning Miss Pacific Islands, Litara Ieremia–Allan, has urged Pacific communities to strengthen cultural ties as part of a broader strategy to create safer online environments for young people.
Speaking at the World Safer Internet Day event on Tuesday, organised by the Online Safety Commission Fiji, Litara highlighted growing concerns that while young people are more digitally connected than ever, many are becoming increasingly disconnected from cultural knowledge and traditions.
“Our young people are so connected on devices, and yet they are so disconnected from the cultural practices and cultural stories,” she said.
“Now I can’t speak for every youth member, because obviously, our youth is so diverse, but largely there’s a growing statistic of our young people being disconnected from their culture. So a more innovative way of us moving towards a safer online world for our youth is to encourage them to reconnect with their culture online as well.”
Her message aligns with the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2026 theme: “One Pacific. One Voice: Standing together for online safety.”
This year’s pageant focuses on digital empowerment, cultural resilience and youth protection, bringing together contestants from across the region to champion a unified Pacific approach to online wellbeing.
Litara encouraged communities to find innovative ways to integrate cultural learning into digital spaces, helping young people reconnect with their identity even while online.
She also reflected the contestants visit to Sabeto Village this week, where they learned about traditional measures used to keep young people safe. These included age–specific mandates, seasonal restrictions and strong systems of communal accountability.
“It took an intergenerational approach to instil these practices in our young people,” she said. “It can’t just take our young pageant sisters… it does take all of us, and indeed it does take our old people that do not have telephones either.”
As the Pacific becomes more digitally oriented, she called for culturally informed responses rooted in traditional etiquette and village structures.
“Your lightest touch can move mountains,” she said. “As we push forward in urgency for safer online spaces, may we remember that small light touches all add up if we all work together.”
Meanwhile, Miss Fiji Ailava Samuels, in partnership with Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island, hosted a warm welcome dinner for Ieremia–Allan and her seven sash sisters. The evening brought together contestants, community representatives and Miss Nadi 2025 for a celebration of culture, sisterhood and local cuisine.
Today, contestants will deliver their Research Presentations, followed by Sarong Judging, Contestant Interviews, and Talent Judging on Friday, 13 February.
The pageant concludes on Saturday, 14 February with Traditional Attire Judging and the Crowning Night, where a new Miss Pacific Islands will be named and will go on to serve as an ambassador for cultural pride, women’s leadership, and online safety advocacy across the region.
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Staff of the Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island. Picture: SUPPLIED
Miss Fiji Ailava Samuels addresses guests during the dinner she hosted for her fellow sash sisters in partnership with Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island. Picture: SUPPLIED
