Miss American Samoa Lorisa Matautia scooped two special awards yesterday at the final day of the Miss South Pacific Pageant.
The awards were presented at Albert Park in front of hundreds of people gathered to witness the first-ever South Pacific pageant in Fiji.
Ms Matautia was named Pacific Building Solutions Miss Personality and Miss Photogenic.
Miss Papua New Guinea Antonnia Singut was named PBS Fijilive Miss Internet while Miss Fiji Merewalesi Nailatikau won the PBS Miss People's Choice award.
Miss French Polynesia Aruhoia Biret won the PBS Air Pacific Miss National Tourism and Miss Tonga Paea Williams won the Miss PBS Peal Beauty Soap Miss Elegance award.
All the special award winners received $200 each while Miss Elegance secured a five-year modeling contract with Ocean Soaps Limited.
South Pacific Pageant board executive director Sonya Hunter said the pageant has been an elating experience for the South Pacific.
"We have witnessed our Pacific ambassadors promote our region in all its strengths.
"Our region is the most beautiful place on earth and it continues to attract visitors.
"The Miss South Pacific Pageant is a pageant with a difference, promoting the cultures of our region, the ladies of the South Pacific who are humble, elegant, caring, beautiful and intelligent."
She said these women were active agents of society and have contributed to the development of Pacific Island nations and region.
Ms Hunter said the contestants had acclaimed through their warm smiles and powerful messages that it is important to look after the environment.
