African Cook Islander Ernestina Bonsu-Maro has placed second runner up in the 2022 Miss Top Model Pageant.

The pageant is designed to celebrate women, promote fashion and empower women to develop personal growth, confidence, friendship and leadership.

The New Zealand breakfast radio producer, broadcaster, model and dance teacher said she was fortunate enough to have the blessing of “representing our beautiful indigenous land of Aotearoa, New Zealand” in the pageant.

“I felt grateful and empowered to represent our people and heritage on the platform of the world stage, we have such amazing talent in our local communities, and presence on the world stage makes my heart full because it’s not about me, it’s about advocating for the generations to come and ensuring that we add value to change.”

Bonsu-Maro, who has maternal links to Pukapuka, said the online engagement with the local community and the various countries who participated in the event was a highlight of the experience including learning about different cultures, and considerations of how to bring about change in a society through a leading voice and platform.

Winning the best national costume category was pretty special, she said.

The costume designers, Vivian Hosking Aue and Puretu Aue, both handmade the “amazing” costume representing New Zealand Agriculture and embracing its natural resources.

Bonsu-Maro said make-up artist Alice Marsters and photographer Paulo Hehea, “captured the essence and mood of what Aotearoa is all about and how it plays such a huge part in our lives”.

The ‘Tuki Ki Mua Te Vae Matua’ national costume image “is a reflection of my homeland Aotearoa New Zealand along with my bloodline lands of Pukapuka and Ghana, connecting with the spirit – a linkage of my mana and strength”.

The image was photographed in her hometown of Mangere, she chose the particular location of Mangere Mountain Motutapu, “because of the extraordinary culture it carries after so many years. It is a place where we all connect for peace, harmony and love, connecting to our heritage and ancestors who lived before us”.

Bonsu-Maro said the creative design depicted “the love to our land and a symbolism of strength and gratitude to our ancestors, which will empower our society of today to take care of our land and to take pride in their culture”.

Also winning the Miss Influencer category, Bonsu-Maro said influencing the present and future communities and being able to connect with people to make positive changes in society was also significant.

“We are blessed to win this section and thanks to the voices of our Indigenous oceanic people. We are very ‘influential’ through our music, culture, language, education, leaders and community work.”

Bonsu-Maro said advocating for “invisible girls” in Oceania communities was a major challenge.

She hopes to help in opening doors to girls who don’t have opportunities, and creating programmes and activities to develop, nurture and advance the women of today and tomorrow.

Bonsu-Maro encourages young women to “be yourself always no matter what … we all have a purpose from God to be unique, be your true beautiful self and love who you are, every little bit”.

For women who don’t have the confidence to join beauty pageants and step out of their comfort zone, she said: “I would honestly say we are not perfect and imperfections is the real winner, what makes you powerful and empowering is your story, your roots and knowing who you.”

“Love yourself first and truly embrace your uniqueness, because throughout your experience you would already feel like a empowering queen …”

In 2017, Bonsu-Maro participated in the Miss Cook Islands pageant representing her motherland of Pukapuka, and later that year attended the Miss Pacific Islands event.