Myths & Maidens - Changing The Lens

Myths & Maidens Part 3: Beauty pageants rule the Pacific and gather in popularity year on year. Who are the favoured types of women in the Pacific in these spaces? Who is excluded? Why are these still the most high profile celebrations of women in the Pacific?

From a Papua New Guinean women who have experienced acute racism in a beauty pageant, to women who have been hypersexualised in Hollywood films of the Pacific, we look at the ways that many young Pasifika women are now advocating for their rights in these spaces.

Tongan TV presenter and journalist Indira Stewart talks about her journey with being able to bring her natural hair to TV screens in NZ, Fijian TV host Sera Ngaigama shares her experiences of being treated differently in Australian TV shows as they both explore how they managed to overcome these obstacles.

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‘MYTHS AND MAIDENS’ is a rich tapestry of stories from women in Samoa, Hawaii, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Aotearoa. A Coconet TV original, the hour long documentary delves into the sticky issues of colourism, fat-phobia, and how our societies have been taught to view women of colour across the ages.

In this love letter to Moana women, we look at the collective trauma, challenges and inequities for women across Pasifika - and how in the face of this, the celebration of ourselves is an act of colonial resistance.

Hollywood films, beauty pageants, and TV representations sit alongside the power of Pasifika performance and our own storytelling to present a crackling canvas of old and new narratives.

The 60min feature documentary offers up the Talanoa and the tea from many different fafine across the Moana - from politicians, artists, farmers to beauty queens, sports women and activists these are the spicy coco- conversations we have been waiting for!

IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR TAMA’ITA’I TOA - TOFILAU YOLANDE AH CHONG