Miss Lauru Crowned Miss Solomon Islands 2024-2025 After Dominating Competition with Six Award Wins.
Miss Lauru, Elsie Polosovai, was crowned Miss Solomon Islands 2024-2025 in the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant in Honiara last night. The competition, which ran for over six hours, featured six young women who showcased their talents, intellect and advocacy for issues close to their hearts. Polosovai emerged victorious after winning six out of the ten award categories, securing her title as the new Miss Solomon Islands.
The contestants this year were Erinma Keni Kausua (Miss Guadalcanal), Kerrie Faradatolo (Miss Tourism), Sharllyma Aruhane (Miss Coral Seas Resort & Casino), Elsie Polosovai (Miss Lauru), Azarinna Zolela Stevens (Miss Solomon Islands Climate Action Network – SICAN), and Jayn Zayniellar Soakai (Miss Tulagi). Each of these young women used the platform to advocate for significant social and environmental issues while showcasing their skills in contemporary art, music and traditional attire.
Miss Tourism, Kerrie Faradatolo, emphasized Solomon Islands as a tourism destination, particularly during the Traditional Contemporary Wear segment, where she showcased the rich cultural diversity of the country’s various provinces. Her message centered on the beauty and uniqueness of Solomon Islands’ culture, though she narrowly missed out on winning any category despite her strong performance, ultimately placing as the first runner-up.
Miss Tulagi, Jayn Zayniellar Soakai, the youngest contestant, proudly represented both her Solomon Islands and Tongan heritage. She won awards for Best Float and Miss Photogenic, impressing with her grace and confidence on stage.
Miss Guadalcanal, Erinma Keni Kausua, brought a unique blend of nature and cultural storytelling to the competition, earning her the Miss Personality award. Her performance, deeply rooted in the folklore of Guadalcanal, paid homage to her island’s rich history and traditions.
Miss SICAN, Azarinna Zolela Stevens, made a powerful impact in the Talent category with her performance focused on climate change. She delivered a strong message on the slogan “Keep 1.5 Degrees Alive,” drawing attention to the critical threshold scientists warn about regarding global warming.
Her advocacy centered on the dire consequences of exceeding this limit, including rising sea levels, and the catastrophic effects on human existence.
Throughout the competition, her focus on climate change highlighted the urgency of action needed from leaders to address this global challenge.
Sharllyma Aruhane, representing Miss Coral Seas Resort & Casino, delivered a compelling message against gender-based violence in the Talent category. Her performance, highlighted by a powerful song, encouraged women and girls to stay strong and called for an end to abuse. Aruhane’s heartfelt advocacy resonated with the audience, and she went on to win the Sarong category, earning recognition for her stylish presentation.
Elsie Polosovai, who represented Lauru, Choiseul Province, dominated the competition by winning six categories: Introduction, Talent, Contemporary/Traditional Attire, On-Stage Question and Answer, Social Media Presence, and Speech. Her journey, which began with childhood Sunday School skits and memorizing Bible verses at Wesley United Church, eventually led her to collaborate with one of New Zealand’s leading creative minds in theatre and film. Her education journey took her from Choiseul Bay Kindergarten to the University of Otago in New Zealand, and her crowning as Miss Solomon Islands marks a significant milestone in her life.
The newly crowned Miss Solomon Islands expressed gratitude to the Lauru People’s Association for believing in and supporting her throughout this journey. She stated that the real work begins now as she embraces her role as Miss Solomon Islands 2024-2025.
Other key award highlights include Miss Tulagi winning in the Float and Photogenic categories, while Miss Coral Seas Resort & Casino took home the award for Best Sarong. The final placements were:
- 5th Runner-Up: Miss Guadalcanal
- 4th Runner-Up: Miss SICAN
- 3rd Runner-Up: Miss Tulagi
- 2nd Runner-Up: Miss Coral Seas Resort & Casino
- 1st Runner-Up: Miss Tourism
- Miss Solomon Islands 2024-2025: Miss Lauru, Elsie Polosovai
