Miss Manui - East Sepik Pageant

Concerns from MBOP East Sepik Provincial Pageant Ambassadors

On behalf of my MBOP East Sepik pageant sisters and I, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for the vision and purpose behind the Miss Bird of Paradise provincial pageant. We fully support its mission to empower young women and promote meaningful community engagement across our provinces.

However, we feel it is important to raise some concerns regarding the practical challenges we are currently facing, particularly at the provincial and district ambassador levels. At this time, the long-term sustainability of our roles is becoming increasingly difficult due to a lack of adequate support and resources.

Like many of my fellow pageant sisters, we are committed to carrying out community projects and initiatives. Unfortunately, without the necessary financial and logistical backing, these efforts have proven extremely difficult to implement. My fellow pageant sisters and I have made several attempts to reach our committee to seek guidance and support, but to date, we have not received any response.

Additionally, we are concerned that we have yet to receive the awards that were officially granted to us following the pageant—resources that many of us had planned to utilise in support of our community initiatives.

It is only after exhausting all other avenues of communication that we have chosen to raise this matter publicly. Our intention is not to discredit the pageant, but rather to call attention to these challenges in the hope of constructive dialogue and timely resolution.

We remain hopeful that these concerns will be acknowledged and addressed, so that we can continue to represent our provinces with pride and carry out the work we have been entrusted to do.

The CPL Foundation is committed to empowering women and girls across Papua New Guinea through education, health, and economic empowerment initiatives. This commitment extends far beyond recognition alone—our support for Pride of PNG Women Awards finalists is for a lifetime, reflecting our belief in sustained investment in women who drive positive change within their families and communities.

The Pride of PNG Women Awards is a flagship awards program that recognizes and celebrates exceptional Papua New Guinean women whose leadership, resilience, and service contribute meaningfully to the social and economic development of the nation.

Vilousa Hahembe, a finalist in the 2024 Pride of PNG Women Awards under The Young Leader Award category, exemplifies these values. A passionate advocate for youth and education, Vilousa continues to inspire through both her leadership and community engagement. More recently, she represented her region on the national stage as the inaugural Miss Manui in the Miss Bird of Paradise Pageant, where she proudly finished as 2nd Runner-Up—a testament to her confidence, cultural pride, and advocacy.

Through her engagement with the Pride of PNG Women Awards, the CPL Foundation has actively supported Vilousa’s education-focused advocacy efforts, providing essential stationery supplies and support through both cash and in-kind donations. This support aligns with the Foundation’s mission to remove barriers to education and enable young women leaders to expand their impact.

Vilousa’s journey reflects the transformative power of opportunity, mentorship, and sustained support—values that sit at the heart of the CPL Foundation’s ongoing dedication to empowering women and girls across Papua New Guinea.

‘Wear your Crown’

I had the honor of being invited to participate in a panel discussion with Miss Bird of Paradise Central Province Pageant , Miss Goilala - Miss Bird of Paradise Central Province Pageant 2025 and Miss Ambunti Drekikir - Miss East Sepik Beauty in Leadership Pageant during the PNG Young Professional Women Network orientation on Sunday April 12th.

YPWN was founded by our very own pageant sister Miss Bird of Paradise-Angoram. Under the theme “Wear your Crown” we had the pleasure of sharing the space with our special guest speaker Hon. Rufina Peter MP Governor for Central Province and the Key note speaker Miss Sophia D Warep.

Coming together to understand the importance of the different crowns we wear, and how we protect them by staying grounded in our values and integrity.

I had the pleasure of being invited to speak at the Economics Students Society (ESS) Orientation as an alumnus. The theme was “The Cutting Edge: Economics in the Information Age.”

It was a nostalgic experience returning to a place that helped shape who I am and guided many of my career decisions. I was grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences with the new members of the ESS and to encourage the soon-to-be graduates to think ahead and plan carefully for their future as forward-thinking economists.

I had the privilege of attending the Miss Bird of Paradise Papua New Guinea celebratory dinner on Saturday, 21st March, where we honored our reigning Queen, Iampela Popena, for her outstanding performance during Pacific Islands Pageant and the meaningful initiatives she will be leading this year alongside fellow provincial ambassadors.

A special mention to my pageant sisters who came out in support. Miss Ambunti Drekikir - Miss East Sepik Beauty in Leadership Pageant Miss Bird of Paradise-Angoram Miss Bird of Paradise Central Province Pageant Miss Gulf Province.

I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority for pledging their support to MBOP and for empowering young women to serve as cultural ambassadors for their provinces. MBOP continues to be a platform that builds character, resilience, and leadership in young women who rise to the challenge. It inspires not only participants, but also young men and women across the nation, instilling a deep sense of pride.

Despite our diverse cultures and ethnicities, we unite in celebrating and supporting our ambassadors and what they represent and that unity is something truly beautiful about us as Papua New Guineans.

As Iampela so powerfully shared in her speech: “Melanesians come in all forms of sizes, skin colours, and hair. We must embrace it, that’s the only way we can be confident.”

On March 17th and 18th, I attended the Anti-Corruption Dialogue Workshop hosted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in my capacity as the Country Representative of Papua New Guinea to the Commonwealth Students Association (CSA).

One of the most impactful discussions focused on “grey listing” and what it could mean for young people across the country. At a time of increasing economic complexity, it is critical that youth stay informed about these issues. Grey listing has real implications for our economy, affecting livelihoods and shaping the opportunities available to graduates entering the workforce.

We also gained valuable insights from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), who shared their ongoing efforts to support reforms in strengthening and refining our financial systems.

Conversations like these are essential. An informed and engaged youth population is key to building a transparent, resilient, and prosperous future for Papua New Guinea.

Leading up to International Women’s Day, I found myself reflecting on moments that remind me why I love being a girls’ girl.

This photo was taken of me and my pageant sisters in the elevator on our way back to the hotel after we completed our Toastmasters session. It was one of those simple, unplanned moments — laughter, tired smiles, and that quiet feeling of pride after stepping out of our comfort zones together.

Moments like this remind me how powerful it is when women support women. No judgment, no ill will — just pure love, encouragement, and the kind of sisterhood that lifts you higher.

Here’s to the women who cheer the loudest for each other, who celebrate one another’s wins, and who create spaces where we can grow together.

This is the kind of energy I carry with me as we lead up to International Women’s Day. 💜

From one sister to another, Miss Manui wishes Miss Bird of Paradise Papua New Guinea all the best at the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant! May you walk with pride, grace, and the strength of our people behind you because you carry the spirit of our mountains and islands 🌊🌺

Maulu Maulu Queen Iampela ❤️

Watch our page for upcoming events!

Supporting an Upcoming Education Initiative in East Sepik Province

Following the successful delivery of a Spelling Bee Competition at Sipagul Primary School in Simbu Province late last year, CPL Foundation Inc. is supporting a further education initiative led by Vilousa Hahembe in East Sepik Province.

Vilousa was a finalist in the Young Leader Award category at the 2024 Pride of PNG Women Awards. Through our Pride of PNG engagement, we supported her work by providing stationery supplies, which were used as prizes for Sipagul Primary School’s first-ever Spelling Bee Competition. The activity involved over 40 students and encouraged reading, confidence, and participation among primary school children.

Building on this experience, CPL Foundation recently provided K500 in City Pharmacy gift cards to support her next education initiative. Vilousa is leading this work in her capacity as the Inaugural Miss East Sepik Cultural Ambassador 2025–2026.

We are pleased to be an early supporter of this initiative and look forward to the impact it will have this year. Further details will be shared through the official Miss Manui – East Sepik platforms in due course.

Yukun Grambu Olgeta!

We are well away into the new year 2026. Miss Manui would like to wish you all a Happy New Year!

Exciting initiatives led by Miss Manui will be coming along in the next few months.

Watch this space for updates.

Friendly reminder from Miss Manui to set out your goals for 2026 and remember it's all about your determination and will power to make them possible!

Maulu Maulu