By Alu J Kalinoe
Copyright postcourier
Miss Hiri-Koiari, Ruth Elijah, reigned supreme last night as Central Province’s first Miss Bird of Paradise Central Province winner. Along with the crown, she also secured the Miss Personality, Best Sarong, and Best Traditionally Inspired Dress/Design awards.
Ruth Elijah hails from Gobuia and Saroa in the Rigo District, as well as the coastal villages of Makerupu, Babaka, Irupara, Alewai, and Keapara.
During the question-and-answer segment, Elijah was asked how to ensure that every child has access to quality education.
She responded, “In Central Province, we know that the majority of those living in rural areas face challenges with school access. Children from some parts of Central often travel to other villages just to attend school. In many cases, one village may only have one primary school, while nearby villages have none, forcing children to walk long distances to access education.”
She went on to outline her vision for change: “What I would do to lead that project is establish community-based learning centres and train local teachers so that we can resolve these issues.”
In the Sarong Wear and Traditionally Inspired Dress/Design categories, Elijah represented Hiri-Koiari with pride, donning outfits designed by her aunty, Ms. Alova Manu. She also performed a traditional Motuan dance during the Cultural Performance category, showcasing her heritage with confidence and grace.
Closing her pageant journey, Elijah expressed heartfelt gratitude: “It has been a great joy being on this stage, learning so much, not just about dresses, not just about shoes or how to walk, but learning about how to get the work done back home.”
She highlighted the importance of developing Central Province to achieve real progress and thanked her fellow contestants for being part of her journey. With her charisma, confidence, and commitment to community development, Ruth Elijah proved herself a deserving winner of the inaugural Miss Bird of Paradise Central Province crown.
