Cook Islands will not participate in this year’s Pacific Islands Pageant to be held in Apia, Samoa from January 29 to February 3.

The regional pageant is back after a break of more than two years, due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.

According to Miss Cook Islands Association and the group’s secretary, Rohan Ellis there has been no national pageant in the past three years, also due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ellis said because of this there would be no one representing the Cook Islands at the upcoming pageant.

He did confirm a national pageant would be held this year, and dates for its launch would be confirmed soon.

The reigning Miss Cook Islands is Tajiya Sahay who was crowned in October 2019.

Sahay was crowned Miss World Oceania 2019 in London, England on December 14, 2019.