Cook Islands Pageant Raises Breast Cancer Awareness with Pink Ribbon Fundraiser
The Maine Kuki Airani Aotearoa Pageant recently held a Pink Ribbon Breakfast Fundraiser to bring awareness to breast cancer within the Cook Islands community.
The event, which gathered local medical professionals and Cook Islanders working in the field, aimed to educate Pacific women on the importance of early detection and support.
The seven contestants of the pageant played a key role as ambassadors in spreading awareness.
The participants, including Inano Aniterea, Keikilani Rea, Jenna Te Ariki, Ambushia Mateariki, Siniva Talamaivao-Nickel, Ngatepaeru Maoate, and Tatyana Nomotu, are dedicated to sharing vital health messages with the community.
Guest speaker Tarani Napa shared a personal and powerful message with the attendees: “Don’t be afraid to go get tested, I chose to live.”
Her words emphasised the life-saving importance of early breast cancer detection and encouraged women to take proactive steps for their health.
Organisers highlighted the urgency of raising awareness among Pacific women, explaining, “It is super important because these are our mothers, daughters, our women—it has an impact on everyone around us as a village.”
The breakfast event aimed to break down the fear surrounding breast cancer through a familiar cultural approach that included music, laughter, food, and joy, making the information more accessible and less intimidating.
Reflecting on the choice to support this cause, the organisers noted that many Cook Islands women have either battled or experienced breast cancer.
They expressed a commitment to using the pageant as a platform to share these crucial messages, with the theme “E Vaine Kama'atu e tona Mekameka: A Woman of Strength & Beauty” underlining the importance of strength, beauty, and community solidarity.
“Our cultural values are our superpower... ‘UNITY’ is one of our main cultural values, and making sure we unite in everything we do, especially when it comes to health, is highly important,”
The goal of the event was to inspire attendees and the wider community to prioritise their health as much as they value their cultural and spiritual traditions.
By spreading awareness, the organisers hope to empower Cook Islands women to recognize the importance of regular checkups and early detection in the fight against breast cancer.
For more information on Breast Cancer Awareness: Please see website here
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By Tikilounge Productions & Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa