Search begins for Miss Cook Islands

Thursday May 11, 2017 Written by Published in Local

Miss Cook Islands, Natalia Short. 16121227

The search for Miss Cook Islands 2017 has begun.

At last week’s annual general meeting for the Miss Cook Islands Association, all the committee and office holders from last year were reappointed and remain focused on delivering another successful Miss Cook Islands Pageant.

Supporting young Cook Islands women in their personal and professional development to become successful citizens of the Cook Islands and the global community is their goal.

And current Miss Cook Islands Natalia Short has high expectations.

“This year’s pageant association has new members and with the support of the dynamic executive I am so excited to see what is in store. The opportunity arises for our young and beautiful maidens to take the same incredible journey that I did.

“I hope they jump at this chance to develop new skills, friendships and grow in different aspects of their lives. I look forward to seeing the hard-working association’s plans come to fruition and will help out where I can.”

Miss Cook Islands Association owns the Cook Islands franchise rights for Miss World and Miss Earth. Miss Cook Islands 2017, Miss Earth Cook Islands 2017 and Miss Purotu Manava 2017 will be crowned on July 22.

Before then though there is much to be done, beginning with the Miss Cook Islands 2017 Pageant launch at Ngatipa, the official residence of the New Zealand High Commissioner on Wednesday May 31.

To be eligible to compete in this year’s pageant entrants must be aged 18-26 years. The organisers are looking for confident and intelligent, women who are passionate about our culture and our country.

“The contestants will all be potential ambassadors for our country and we are excited by the opportunities for our young Cook Islands women to develop and personally succeed” says Miss Cook Islands Association president Dianna Clarke-Bates.

Cook Islands Red Cross will again play a significant role in supporting Miss Cook Islands 2017.  Aannouncing the commitment, Secretary-General Fine Arnold said: “We are happy to continue to support Miss Cook Islands.

“We make sure youth engagement is an important part of all our programmes. We support youth development in all areas and we see Miss Cook Islands as a role model, a public figure that our youth can look up to”.

“Last year we provided Natalia with an opportunity to meet the international Red Cross community, and it was a wonderful occasion for her.

“She was also able to represent the Pacific in a discussion on Climate Change. We want to give youth an opportunity to be part of an international event and to meet other great youth leaders from around the world”.

“This year we will be taking Miss Cook Islands 2017 with us to our General Assembly and Council of Delegates meeting in Turkey in November as our youth representative to these meetings. There will be a session there for youth at which she will speak.”

If you or someone you know is interested in taking part in this year’s pageant, please call Mere Short on 54409 or Addrienne Hosking on 55144.

As with last year’s contest, there are great prizes to be won throughout the competition (which will take place over six events), and keys to a new Suzuki car will be handed over to Miss Cook Islands 2017 on the night she is crowned.

            - Jaewynn McKay

http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/local/item/64353-search-begins-for-miss-cook-islands