Miss PNG speaks on Youth Empowerment at Pacific Islands Pageant

Miss Papua New Guinea, Iampela Popena, took the stage at the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant 2026, to address 'Youth Empowerment' in a compelling presentation that blended cultural pride with urgent social advocacy.

Speaking at Tanoa International Hotel before a panel of esteemed judges and regional guests on Thursday, February 12, the 19-year-old Economics student from the University of Papua New Guinea delivered a sharp message: the Pacific’s youth demographic, while a powerful resource, is a "ticking time bomb" if ignored.

Popena’s research presentation in the Pre-Pageant Interview category, went beyond standard pageant rhetoric, focusing on the practical challenges facing young people in the region, including rising drug abuse and urban crime.

“Empowerment is not about waiting for someone to give you power,” Popena said, quoting John McLaughlin. “It’s about recognizing your own power and using it to make a difference”.

She said with 20% of the Pacific population aged between 15 and 25, youth empowerment is the essential key to addressing regional instability.

The Miss PNG representative outlined a strategic three-phase approach to fostering a self-sufficient generation, speaking on education and value alignment, access to opportunities and platform and visibility.

Popena made a striking visual impact, wearing a black tribal ensemble crowned with a dramatic Bird of Paradise wig. The attire, representing the unity of PNG’s 800+ languages, complemented her message of collective responsibility.

“Youth empowerment is not just the responsibility of NGOs or the government,” she said. “It is the responsibility of each and every one of us. Because when we work together, only great things can happen”.

As the pageant progresses to the final crowning at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, Popena’s performance has solidified her position as a leading voice for social change in the Pacific.

This provides a closer look at the cultural presentations and contestants, including Iampela Popena, as they represent their nations in Nadi, Fiji.