By Alu J Kalinoe

Copyright postcourier

Miss Bird of Paradise Central, Ruth Elijah, was crowned last night and also took home two major awards: Best Sarong and Best Traditionally Inspired Design/Dress. Her triumph came with strong support from her aunty, Alova Manu, who earlier this year won the Cosmopolitan Amateur Fashion Designers Competition.

Alova, of mixed parentage from Wanigela and Keapara, played an important role in Ruth’s preparations, designing both her sarong wear and Traditionally Inspired Dress (TID). The process was tiring, demanding five consecutive days of work, sleepless nights, and early mornings.

“It took hard work, sleepless nights, fatigue, continuous betel nut and coffee breaks. For five days straight I was sleeping at 4am and waking up at 6am just to finish all the outfits,” Alova recalled.

Her dedication was rooted in family ties. “Miss Hiri-Koiari is my niece, her grandmother is from Keapara, so by blood she’s my niece. She was looking for a designer, and I had first designed a graduation gown for her cousin sister, who then recommended me to her. That’s how I became her designer.”

The sarong category, Alova explained, demands creativity with strict boundaries. “The sarong wear is usually a three-meter piece of fabric that requires no stitching. Contestants must use the cloth as it is, finding creative ways to wrap and tie it.

The sarong wear brings out artistry and imagination, while the TID speaks volumes about your culture and knowledge of tradition.”

Ruth, originally from Gobuia and Saroa villages in Rigo District, represented Hiri-Koiari, a challenge that required her to embrace and understand a new cultural identity. “It was quite a challenge at first. Hiri-Koiari is made up of two very different parts, and I told her to do her research so we could create something meaningful,” Alova said.

Through her research, Ruth was able to gather knowledge from both the Hiri and Koiari cultures, blending them into her final TID piece. That fusion of creativity, cultural respect, and family support helped her shine on stage and ultimately secure her crown as Miss Bird of Paradise Central.