A Cook Islander has taken home the Miss Oceania title for the second time, with Tiare Henry-Anguna crowned the Pacific regions continental queen at the Miss World finals in Vietnam.
Henry-Anguna was among 111 contestants who spent a month competing in the 73rd edition of the international pageant, with the finals held on September 5th.
The Dominican Republic’s Joheirry Mola was crowned Miss World, with the six continental queens announced alongside her.
Henry-Anguna says winning the Oceania title is an achievement not just for the Cook Islands, but for the entire Pacific Islands region.
“I feel so extremely blessed and grateful, coming from a small nation of 15,000 people. This is not only just for the Cook Islands, but it’s for the whole Pacific nation as well. So I wear this sash and I wear this tiara for all of you, for our young girls in the Cook Islands [and] in the Pacific.”
She honoured those who supported her journey,
“I just want to say thank you to everyone back home, but I also want to say a big, huge thank you to my director, to my family and friends, and to my daddy up in heaven. This is for you, and I hope you I made you proud.”
The new Miss World Oceania told official event media she did not expect the result, and was simply enjoying the experience of competing on an international stage.
She said the month-long competition had created a “sisterhood” among contestants and she looks forward to the year ahead reigning alongside the new Miss World and her continental queens.
Miss World 2026 and her Continental Queens
Supplied / Miss World Organization
The result is extra special for former Miss Cook Islands Tajiya Sahay, who in 2019 became the first Cook Islander to win the Miss World Oceania title.
Sahay said that heading into the event, she was confident Henry-Anguna would bring the crown home.
“Before the finale, I already told others ‘I absolutely believe our Miss Cook Islands Tiare will definitely be our next Miss World Oceania.”
She said she was ‘over the moon’ when her prediction came true.
“I screamed, I had happy tears, but I wasn’t too surprised at all because I saw her potential and everything she put into her journey. She literally carries all the attributes and traits of a Miss World Oceania. She truly represented from her heart, and I knew what she was capable of. It’s such a special feeling, so well deserved, and I could not be more proud of her.”
According to Sahay, the return of the title proves the Cook Islands can succeed on international stages.
“As a Miss Cook Islands, one of our goals is to continue to inspire and empower others, especially Cook Islanders, and especially coming from a tiny nation to show them that, dreams are not impossible, like if we work hard for it, if we believe in ourselves, if we put our minds to it, that we can achieve things that we never thought were within reach.”
Miss Cook Islands 2019, Tajiya Sahay, crowns Miss Cook Islands 2025, Tiare Henry-Anguna.
Supplied / Miss Cook Islands
“Bringing home this title just goes to show that our talents absolutely belong on an international platform, on a global stage, and we are continuing to just pave the way for many Cook Islanders, especially our younger generation.”
Sahay’s own Miss World Oceania reign was interrupted by border closures during the Covid-19 pandemic. But she said seeing the doors open for Tiare was heart-warming.
Sahay played a role in preparing Henry-Anguna for the competition, mentoring her in areas including interviews, public speaking, stage presence, styling, walking, posing and confidence.
But she said the most important message was to be authentic.
“The best thing to witness definitely was Tiare’s willingness to learn. She absolutely just wanted to soak up all the advice and to perform to the best of her ability, which she absolutely did,” Sahay said.
“It was a pleasure to watch her blossom, to transform, to excel and go beyond all our expectations. She has really just shaped herself into the best representation of us and our people and our nation, and we could not be more proud.”
Miss Cook Islands (L-R) Reihana Koteka-Wiki 2018, Tiare Henry-Anguna 2025, Tajiya Sahay 2019.
Supplied / Miss Cook Islands
Henry-Anguna now begins her reign as Miss World Oceania 2026, taking over from the former Miss Australia Jasmine Stringer.
Stringer said she was also proud to see the Cook Islands take over the title.
“I absolutely loved watching Tiare’s journey as she represented the Cook Islands so beautifully at Miss World. I hope to one day visit Tiare and experience the beauty, culture and warmth of her incredible home, the Cook Islands.”
“I am so proud to see Tiare named as my successor and I am confident she will have an incredible and impactful year ahead as the new Miss World Oceania.”
Former Miss World Oceania 2025, Australia’s Jasmine Stringer congratulates Miss World Oceania 2026, Cook Islands’ Tiare Henry-Anguna.
Supplied / Jasmine Stringer
Henry-Anguna began her journey home the morning after finals. She arrived in Auckland on Monday morning (September 7) where she will stay for a couple days, before her final flight to Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
