{{Short description|Beauty pageant}} {{Infobox Organization |name = {{ubl|Miss Cook Islands Association|Maine Kuki Airani}} |formation = {{sda|1960}} | type = <!-- e.g., Nonprofit, NGO, etc. per [[Template:Infobox organization]] --> | purpose =Beauty pageant |headquarters = [[Avarua]] |location = [[Cook Islands]] | membership = <!-- number of members per [[Template:Infobox organization]]--> | affiliations ={{Hlist|[[Miss World]]|[[Miss Earth]]|[[Miss International]]|[[Miss Grand International]]}} |language = English |leader_title = President |leader_name = Dianna Clarke-Bates |num_staff = |website = {{URL|www.misscookislands.com}} }}
The '''Miss Cook Islands''' is the national beauty pageant in the [[Cook Islands]] organised by the Miss Cook Islands Association (MCIA).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thecoconet.tv/moana-arts/pacific-island-beauty-pageants-1/miss-cook-islands-2019-tajiya-sahay/ |title=MISS COOK ISLANDS 2019 - TAJIYA SAHAY |publisher=The Coconet |access-date=25 December 2020}}</ref>
==History== ===Early=== The pageant was held for the first time in 1960 and was usually happening in every two years.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} The pageant encompasses physical attributes and qualities that are seen to represent the community at large; respectability, talent and commitment to Cook Islands value.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SdmBdhq6l-gC&q=miss+cook+islands+1960&pg=PT113|title=Dancing from the Heart: Movement, Gender, and Cook Islands Globalization|first=Kalissa|last=Alexeyeff|date=18 October 2018|publisher=[[University of Hawaii Press]]|isbn=9780824832445|access-date=18 October 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref>
===International competitions=== In 1998 the Miss Cook Islands franchised the Miss Universe and Miss South Pacific licenses. The pageant was patronized by Pa Te Ariki Upokotini Marie and Ui Ariki. Between 1983 and 1999 the Miss Cook Islands winners went to the Miss Universe competition.
Today, the pageant is patronised by the First Lady - Mrs [[Akaiti Puna]] - the wife of Prime Minister - Hon. [[Henry Puna]]. The Miss Cook Islands association is a non-profit organisation that owns and operates the pageant, based on Rarotonga, the Cook Islands. It has evolved into a professionally operated pageant with a passion and focus on developing young Cook Islands women to be the best versions of themselves; and giving them opportunities to showcase their talent & skill on a world stage.
'Identity & Heritage' are the core themes of the pageant, as it strives to ignite cultural pride and self-worth in Cook Islands youth. The main sponsors of the pageant include the government of the Cook Islands and the largest companies in the islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/features/entertainment/item/54536-miss-cook-islands-prepares-for-miss-world|title=Miss Cook Islands prepares for Miss World|author=Matariki Wilson|website=Cookislandnews.com|access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/local/item/64643-strong-line-up-for-miss-cook-islands-title|title=Strong line up for Miss Cook Islands title|website=Cookislandnews.com|access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref> Every year the pageant sends its top three to Miss World, Miss International and Miss Grand International competitions. In 2018, the second runner up will represent the country at Miss Grand International. The first runner up will represent the country at Miss International. The winner will represent the country at Miss World. 2020 will see the return of the pageant to Miss Universe, in addition to Miss World and Miss Grand International 2020. Miss Cook Islands 2019 coronation is scheduled for Saturday 26 October 2019 at the National Auditorium at Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
==Titleholders== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center" !width="60"|Year||width="250"|Miss Cook Islands<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/entertainment/miss-cook-islands-don-t-be-pretentious/ |title=Miss Cook Islands: 'Don't be pretentious' |author=Melina Etches |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=28 September 2018 |access-date=25 December 2020}}</ref> |- | 1960 | June Taringa (Baudinet) |- | 1961 | Tara Utanga (Scott) |- | 1972 | Joanna Taria Rere |- | 1973 | Ina Manuel Karika |- | 1979 | Ellena Tavioni |- | 1980 | Moari Luka-Fortes |- | 1981 | Celine Tommy |- | 1982 | Carmena Blake (Wong) |- | 1983 | Margaret Brown (Numanga) |- | 1984 | Essie Apolonia Mokotupu |- | 1985 | Lorna Sawtell |- | 1986 | Michelle Leone Oberg |- | 1988 | Annie Wigmore |- | 1989 | Angela Manarangi |- | 1990 | Raema Chitty |- | 1991 | Jeannine Tuavera (Piri) |- | 1993 | Leilani Brown |- | 1994 | Tarita Brown |- | 1995 | Victoria (Vicky) Keil |- | 1998 | Tina Marie Vogel |- | 2000 | Louisa Mayor Browne |- | 2002 | Donna Tuarra |- | 2004 | Noovai Tylor |- | 2006 | Krystina Te-Rangi Elizabeth Kauvai |- | 2009 | Engara Melanie Amanda Gosselin |- | 2012 | Teuira Napa |- | 2014 | Felicia Rose George |- | 2015 | Natalia Short |- | 2016 | Lydia Simonis Tariu |- | 2017 | Alanna Smith |- | 2018 | Reihana Koteka-Wiki |- | 2019 | Tajiya Eikura Sahay |- | 2025 | Tiarē Henry-Anguna |- |}
==International pageants representatives== {{plainlist| * {{Color box|gold|border=silver}} : Declared as Winner * {{Color box|#FFFF66|border=silver}} : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification * {{Color box|#FFFF99|border=silver}} : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists * {{Color box|#FADADD|border=silver}} : Ended as special awards winner }} ===Miss World Cook Islands === {| class="wikitable " style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center;" ! Year ! Miss World Cook Islands ! Placement at Miss World ! Special Award(s) ! Notes |- | [[Miss World 2026|2026]] | Tiare Henry-Anguna<ref>{{Cite web |last=Etches |first=Melina |date=31 October 2025 |title=Miss Cook Islands 2025 crowns its winner tonight! |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/features/entertainment/miss-cook-islands-2025-crowns-its-winner-tonight/ |access-date=1 November 2025 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref> | TBA | TBA | |- | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete between 2020—2025}} |-style="background-color:#FFFF99; " | 2019 | Tajiya Eikura Sahay<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/entertainment/cook-islands-tajiya-sahay-top-12-in-miss-world-2019/ |title=Miss Cook Islands Tajiya Sahay top 12 in Miss World 2019 |publisher=Cook Islands News |author=Jonathan Milne |date=14 December 2019 |access-date=25 December 2020}}</ref> | Top 12 | * [[Miss World Oceania]] | |-style="background-color:#FFFF99; " | 2018 | Reihanna Maire Koteka-Wiki<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.teaomaori.news/miss-cook-islands-koteka-wiki-places-top-30-world |title=Miss Cook Islands Koteka-Wiki places Top 30 in the World |author=Tema Hemi |publisher=Te Ao Māori|date=9 December 2018 |access-date=25 December 2020}}</ref> | Top 30 | | |- | 2017 | Alanna Matamaru Matenga Smith | Unplaced | | |-style="background-color:#FFFF99; " | 2016 | Natalia Asinata Simahite Short | Top 20 | * [[Miss World Sports]] | |- | colspan="5" {{n/a|Did not compete between 1991 — 2015}} |- | 1990 | Angela Manarang | Unplaced | | |- | {{n/a|1989}} | colspan=3 {{n/a|Did not compete}} | {{n/a| }} |- | 1988 | Annie Wigmore | Unplaced | | |- | 1987 | Michelle Leone Oberg | Unplaced | | |- |}
===Miss International Cook Islands === {| class="wikitable " style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center;" ! Year ! Miss International Cook Islands ! Placement at Miss International ! Special Award(s) ! Notes |- |-style="background-color:#FADADD; " | [[Miss International 2025|2025]] | Zoe Hoff<ref>{{cite news|author=Milena Etches|date=3 November 2025|title=Spectacular finale for Miss Cook Islands 2025: High-value prizes for the top three winners|url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/local/culture/entertainment-national/spectacular-finale-for-miss-cook-islands-2025-high-value-prizes-for-the-top-three-winners/|access-date=5 November 2025|website=[[Cook Islands News]]|language=en}}</ref> | Unplaced | * Miss Talent | |- | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete between 2019—2024}} |- | [[Miss International 2018|2018]] | Louisa Purea | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss International 2017|2017]] | Silas Tuaputa <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missnews.com.br/noticias/cook-islands-crowns-representatives-for-miss-world-miss-earth-and-miss-international-2017|title=Cook Islands crowns representative for Miss World, Miss Earth and Miss International 2017|website=MissNews|date=August 8, 2017|access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref> | Unplaced | | |}
===Miss Grand Cook Islands === ::''Miss Cook Islands acquired the license of [[Miss Grand International|Miss Grand Cook Islands]] in 2018, and the 2nd runner-up of that year's competition, Teau Moana McKenzie, was assigned to compete in the international tournament in Myanmar.<ref name=cookgrand>{{cite web|url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/local/mckenzie-in-myanmar-for-miss-grand-international/|title=McKenzie in Myanmar for Miss Grand International|date=10 October 2018|accessdate=19 September 2023|author=Rashneel Kumar|archivedate=22 March 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322023343/https://www.cookislandsnews.com/local/mckenzie-in-myanmar-for-miss-grand-international/|publisher=[[Cook Islands News]]}}</ref><ref name=grandcook>{{cite web|url=https://thanhnien.vn/nu-van-dong-vien-olympic-dang-quang-miss-grand-cook-islands-2018-185790906.htm|title=Nữ vận động viên Olympic đăng quang 'Miss Grand Cook islands 2018'|date=23 September 2018|accessdate=19 September 2023|language=vi|author=Thanh Tuyền|publisher=[[Thanh Niên]]|archivedate=18 September 2023|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230918213754/https://thanhnien.vn/nu-van-dong-vien-olympic-dang-quang-miss-grand-cook-islands-2018-185790906.htm}}</ref>''
{| class="wikitable " style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center;" ! Year ! Miss Grand Cook Islands ! Placement at Miss Grand International ! Special Award(s) ! Notes |- | align=center|[[Miss Grand International 2026|2026]] | Matangaro Tarabay<ref name=mgcok26>{{cite web|url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/local/culture/entertainment-national/spectacular-finale-for-miss-cook-islands-2025-high-value-prizes-for-the-top-three-winners/|title=Spectacular finale for Miss Cook Islands 2025: High-value prizes for the top three winners|date=3 November 2025|author=Melina Etches|work=Cook Islands News|archive-date=3 November 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20251103215246/https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/local/culture/entertainment-national/spectacular-finale-for-miss-cook-islands-2025-high-value-prizes-for-the-top-three-winners/}}</ref> | TBA | | align=center|{{nowrap|Miss Cook Islands Grand International 2025{{efn|name=y2025|Supplemental title at the Miss Cook Islands 2025 pageant<ref name=mgcok26/>}}}} |- | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete between 2020—2025}} |- | align=center|[[Miss Grand International 2019|2019]] | Pearl Lazaro<ref name=cook2019>{{cite web|url=https://www.mrgs.school.nz/2019/10/|title=Congratulations to alumna Pearl Lazaro|date=28 October 2019|accessdate=21 September 2023|via=[[Internet Archive]]|publisher=[[Mount Roskill Grammar School]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205023533/https://www.mrgs.school.nz/2019/10/ |archive-date=2020-02-05 }}</ref> |colspan=2 {{n/a|Did not compete}} |align=center|Miss Cook Islands 2019 2nd Runner-up<ref name=cook2019/> |- | align=center|[[Miss Grand International 2018|2018]] | Teau Moana McKenzie<ref name=cookgrand/><ref name=grandcook/> | align=center|Unplaced<ref name=2018result>{{cite web|url=https://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/miss-grand-international/meenakshi-chaudhary-of-india-crowned-miss-grand-international-2018/articleshow/66366162.cms|title=Meenakshi Chaudhary from India wins 1st runner-up title at Miss Grand International 2018|date=25 October 2018|accessdate=27 August 2022|work=[[Times of India]]|archivedate=26 August 2022|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20220826204549/https://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/miss-grand-international/meenakshi-chaudhary-of-india-crowned-miss-grand-international-2018/articleshow/66366162.cms}}</ref> | | align=center|Miss Cook Islands 2018 2nd Runner-up<ref name=grandcook/> |} ;Notes {{notelist}}
==Past license holders== ===Miss Universe Cook Islands === ::''Miss Cook Islands has started to send a winner to [[Miss Universe]] from 1983—1999. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.'' {| class="wikitable " style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center;" ! Year ! Miss Universe Cook Islands ! Placement at Miss Universe ! Special Award(s) ! Notes |- | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete since 2000}} |- | [[Miss Universe 1999|1999]] | Tina Vogel | Unplaced | | |- | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete between 1997—1998}} |- | [[Miss Universe 1996|1996]] | Victoria Keil | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1995|1995]] | Tarita Brown | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1994|1994]] | Leilani Brown | Unplaced | | |- | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete in 1993}} |- | [[Miss Universe 1992|1992]] | Jeannine Tuavera | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1991|1991]] | Raema Chitty | Unplaced | | |- | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete between 1987—1990}} |- | [[Miss Universe 1986|1986]] | Lorna Sawtell | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1985|1985]] | Essie Apolonia Mokotupu | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1984|1984]] | Margaret Brown | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1983|1983]] | Carmena Blake | Unplaced | | |- |}
===Miss Earth Cook Islands=== {| class="wikitable " style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center;" ! Year ! Miss Earth Cook Islands ! Placement at Miss Earth ! Special Award(s) ! Notes |- | colspan="5" {{n/a|Did not compete since 2018 }} |- | 2017 | Mona Louisa Taio | Unplaced | | |- | 2016 | Allanah Keri Herman-Edgar | Unplaced | | |- | colspan="5" {{n/a|Did not compete between 2013 — 2015}} |- | 2012 | Teuira Raechel Napa | Unplaced | | |- |}
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Miss Universe countries and territories}} {{Miss World countries and territories}} {{Miss International countries and territories}} {{Miss Earth countries and territories}} {{Navboxes| | title = [[Miss Grand International]] participating countries and territories | list = {{Miss Grand national pageants in Africa}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in Asia and Oceania}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in Europe}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in North America}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in South America}} }}
[[Category:Miss Universe by country|Cook Islands]] [[Category:Miss World by country|Cook Islands]] [[Category:Miss International by country|Cook Islands]] [[Category:Miss Earth by country|Cook Islands]] [[Category:Miss Grand International by country|Cook Islands]] [[Category:Cook Islands awards]] [[Category:Recurring events established in 1960]]