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Home > Archive > Mar 29, 2007

Samoan ‘Princess’ Prepares to Hand Off Her Title
By Cami Cox
Staff Writer
Olivia Pedro, an 18-year-old Dixie High School graduate, had the opportunity to visit the place of her ancestry as the reigning “Miss Utah Samoa.” Pedro was crowned at the Utah pageant in West Valley last July, and she went on to compete for the title of Miss Teuila at a pageant in Samoa.
“I was the only (contestant) representing the United States,” she said.
In Samoa, Pedro said she competed with contestants from New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and American Samoa. Though she didn’t win the title of Miss Teuila, and the accompanying opportunity to compete for the Miss South Pacific title, she returned to her hometown of St. George with a loftier title in mind: Olivia Pedro, RN.
“After what I witnessed there, I wanted to go back and make a difference over there and help,” she said.
Pedro said while in Samoa, she visited a local hospital, and the conditions there were alarming to her. Primitive to what she was used to, having grown up in Utah, the facilities were inadequate for the number of patients and their needs, she said.
“There were tons of sick people just sitting outside waiting – waiting to see the doctor,” she said. “I want to go back to Samoa and help them there.”
Pedro was already interested in a career in the medical field, but her visit to the islands brought that aspiration into focus for her. She said she is now preparing to enter the nursing program at Dixie State College, with plans to return to Samoa once her schooling is completed.
As Miss Utah Samoa, Pedro said she has grown and learned in other ways, in addition to solidifying her career goals.
“I learned more about my culture than I had during the whole 18 years of my life,” she said.
Her duties as Miss Utah Samoa have included addressing other Polynesian youth in speaking engagements throughout Utah. Pedro said part of what she’s endeavored to accomplish is encouraging other Samoan girls to become actively involved in their culture and to vie for this year’s Miss Utah Samoa title.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime (opportunity). It’s something you can tell to future generations,” she said. “I was representing my family, and my family was the whole Polynesian people.”
“At first, I was kind of scared to do the pageant, but I’m so glad I did it,” she went on to say. “I’ve never been in other pageants. This was my first.”
In contrast to other, more mainstream pageants, Pedro said, the competition wasn’t focused on walking, looking good in a bathing suit, and other factors one typically associates with a pageant. She said contestants didn’t even wear swimsuits – they sported sarongs for the judges.
“It (the competition) was mainly focused on the girl, on how she presented herself,” she said.
A favorite pageant rule of Pedro’s during the competition pertained to footwear…or, rather, the lack thereof. The contest rules stated that contestants were to be barefoot on stage at all times.
“I loved that!” Pedro said. “I don’t do high heels, because you will see me trip.”
Pedro said she highly encourages other Samoan girls to get involved in this year’s Miss Utah Samoa pageant, which will take place in the summer.
“I’ll hand over my crown in July,” she said. “I’m trying to encourage the Samoan girls to come out and give this a try, because it’s a really good experience.”

Each Friday, the Polynesian Town Market prepares and sells lunch at an outdoor booth, and Pedro said proceeds from the Friday lunches will benefit the next Miss Utah Samoa and help her get to the national pageant. For more information about this fundraiser or the Miss Utah Samoa pageant, contact the Polynesian Town Market at 435-652-3516 or visit them at 376 Sunland Dr. #10 in St. George.

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