Miss Tiare Pageant contestants introduced

The Tiare Festival for this year 2009 has been set to officially begin on Saturday the 5th of December at the Punanga Nui Market at 11am with the first public appearance of the Miss Tiare pageant contestants.
Five young Cook Island women have been confirmed for this years Tiare pageant and they are Ebony Richard who is Miss Tiare Bougainvillea (Taria) and is proudly sponsored by BCI the Bank of the Cook Islands. Next up is Tevananga Upu Pere who is attending Tereora College and she is Miss Tiare Water Lily (Riri o te Vai) and is sponsored by Vonnias Nouvelle Ltd your spot to shop. Nicole Ama will be Miss Tiare Hibiscus (Kaute) and she is sponsored by the Taakoka Dance Troupe, Ahlisa Sosene, is Miss Tiare Tipani (Frangipani), proudly sponsored by Tipani Tours and finally we have Tekea-tongi-ariki Loveyana Natalita Akava, Miss Tiare Taina (Gardenia) sponsored by FBI the Fish Shop.
Four of the five contestants met yesterday afternoon for the first time at the National Auditorium for a briefing of the pageant program for this year. Also present at the meet was the current Miss Tiare 2008/2009 Lindsay Graham who was on hand to help the girls with their first practice on the cat walk and also public speaking along with several staff of the Ministry of Cultural Development. She gave words of encouragement to the girls and thanked them for joining up with the pageant as she has discovered last year, it was indeed a great experience.
The contestant’s deportment training will begin this week at the National Auditorium. As mentioned the official opening of the Tiare Festival will be on the 5th of December at the Punanga Nui Market with the girl’s first public appearance.
That same evening, Edgewater Resort is sponsoring a dinner at the hotel where the first judging for the pageant will begin with the presentations of the sponsor promotional speeches.
Monday the 7th and Wednesday the 9th will be rehearsal days for the contestants. Several programs for the Tiare Festival this year has been cancelled therefore the only program will be the Government Decorated Properties which will be held on Tuesday the 8th of December.
The final night for the Miss Tiare pageant will be held on Thursday the 10th at the National Auditorium starting from 7pm. The contestants will be judged on their talent section, pareu gown walk and their questionnaire section.
During the girl’s first orientation session, they all were nervous and excited at the same time but all looking forward to this year’s pageant.
The Miss Tiare pageant is more than just a beauty pageant, it is a wonderful experience for young Cook Island women and it uplifts ones self esteem. The pageant helps to develop ones confidence especially for the young women of the Cook Islands, our future generation.

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