After a brave battle with a rare form of cancer, Kimiora Vogel, the Cook Islands’ first winner of the Miss South Pacific title in 1991, sadly passed away on Wednesday, December 1 last week at the age of 50.

After a week of tributes, she was laid to rest yesterday at her family home in Matavera.

Kimiora Vogel, who hailed from the village of Rangiatea (Matavera), has been described as a beautiful gentle girl of grace, humility and kindness, a talented dancer and artist who treasured her culture and was a great ambassador of our nation.

Her sudden passing shocked her family and friends near and far and her beautiful nature had touched many hearts as seen by the overwhelming tributes that have flowed in.

The Miss Pacific Islands Family conveyed, “we send our prayers and heartfelt condolences to Kimiora’s family and friends, and to the Miss Cook Islands Pageant Association during this difficult time. Rest in the love and peace of our Heavenly Father”.

With “heavy hearts” the Pacifica Pageant Community wrote “Fly high our queen like a beautiful dove, may God receive all your pristine love, fly to heaven like the Queen you are; your legacy on earth will remain…”

Kimiora was 20 when she represented the Cook Islands at the Miss South Pacific Pageant in Samoa.

Justice of the Peace, former dance champion and cultural expert Georgina Keenan Williams recalled when she was first approached by the late Terangi Little to assist, prepare and coach Kimiora for the pageant.

“Kimiora was a beautiful, humble, shy girl, who picked a simple elegant costume for the ‘national wear’ category, and we trained her to wear high heels by balancing books on her head,” recalled Williams. “And you were on the plane to Samoa, armed with the love of your culture, the love of your family, your beloved Rangiatea and country... the rest is history.”

The Cook Islands was so proud, “we had a huge welcome ceremony for her at the airport when she returned”, Williams added.

Soon after, Kimiora joined the Orama Dance Troupe that was founded by Williams and Taoro Brown, and travelled all over the world promoting the Cook Islands as a holiday destination.

Beauty runs in the Vogel family, seven years later in 1998, Kimiora’s younger sister Tina Mitchell (nee Vogel) won the Miss Cook Islands title.

Kimiora had been employed as an interpreter at the Cook Islands Parliament when she began to feel unwell and was referred to New Zealand last year.

A special family service supported by Government was held at the National Auditorium on Sunday evening, where friends and family shared their fond memories of her.

Businesswoman and cultural expert Jackie Tuara said: “We were blessed in 2018 to have Kimiora as one of our founding tutors of Te Manava Ora o te Ivi Maori.”

“Kimiora was the epitome and essence of all these wonderful values, a very talented woman a beautiful loving soul who gave of her time, her energy, her talents and her love endlessly.”

God gave us all talents to be used to share with others, to pass on to others and to bless those we meet along the way of our life’s journey, said Tuara.

“Her knowledge of the ukarere she taught, her talent, gift and love for music she shared with our students, she was without a doubt instrumental in helping to instil in our students who are our future, a love for their Cook Islands music and culture.

“We will be forever grateful to her for the time and love she gave unconditionally to teach our children, our future generation,” said Tuara.

Born on March 11, 1971, Kimiora is the daughter of William Vogel and late Moekopu of Rangiatea.

Kimiora had immense faith in her religion, and enjoyed the Girls Brigade Company and church activities of the Matavera CICC.

She returned to Rarotonga with her partner Felix Matapuku to fulfil her wish to be with her beloved father Papa Ve, and to see her siblings.

Kimiora was buried yesterday beside her mother Moekopu, at the family home in Matavera. Kimiora is survived by her father William Vogel, her siblings, Ve, Turia, Renall, Beal, Tina, Mata, Hatton and Nichol.