Werribee beauty Tongan-bound

Nia Petelo

By Esther Lauaki

Werribee has its first Tongan beauty queen.

Nunia ‘Akanete Petelo was this month selected as the inaugural Miss Tera Pacific Australia and will travel to Tonga in July to compete in the long-running Miss Heilala pageant.

That pageant is a part of the island’s annual Heilala Festival, first organised in 1980 and which celebrates the birthday of his late Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV.

“I’m very proud to represent everyone here in Australia,” Ms Petelo said

“I am also grateful for wonderful sponsors who saw, and still see, potential in me and entrusted me to be your very first Miss Tera Pacific Australia.

“I give all thanks and glory back to our Heavenly Father for all the love and blessings bestowed upon my family and even more so myself.”