Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — There will be a new addition in the Feleti Barstow Library’s Pacific Islands Authors category today, thanks to the reigning Miss Samoa, the beautiful Haylanni Pearl Mataupu Kuruppu.

Ms Kuruppu arrived on island yesterday morning to launch her book entitled “Haylanni — The Journey to Miss Samoa” which has been translated to Samoan with the Samoan title, “Haylanni — O le Malaga I le fia avea ma Miss Samoa.”

Both versions have been printed and bound together in one book, with the English version on one side and the Samoan version on the other side, both versions ending towards the middle of the book.

Hence, the book has two title covers which both show a cartoonized photo of her being crowned by outgoing Miss Samoa 2019 Fonoifafo McFarland Seumanu, who reigned for three years after the annual Miss Samoa Pageant was put on hold due to COVID-19.

The current Miss Samoa was accompanied by Samoa Stationary and Books (SSAB) CEO Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai, whose company is partnering with her for today’s book launch scheduled for 9 a.m. this morning

Vaito’a Peletisala Toelupe, the director of the Onomea Production Group, which has won the three-year contract to organize the Miss Samoa Pageant was part of the delegation.

On hand to officially welcome the reigning Miss Samoa was her local counterpart Miss American Samoa, the lovely Judy Fa’afetai Tauanu’u who congratulated Haylanni on her achievement.

The 22 year-old from Fagasa, Nu’uuli, Taputimu and Fagaloa and Musumusu in Samoa, told Samoa News that she is also busy implementing her platforms for the benefit of the people of American Samoa.

“My first platform is to prioritize good health by initiating awareness programs with the support of the Department of Health and LBJ to emphasize the importance of exercise and to eat healthy food,” she revealed. “Secondly, is to encourage our youth through various local and federal programs in taking advantage of opportunities to become more self reliant so they can realize their goals.”

“Haylanni is an inspiration to the youth back home and she is a very affable and approachable person whose sunny personality appeals to people of all ages,” Tofilau revealed.

“I for one was very moved and inspired by her heartfelt presentation at the launch of her book in June where she concluded by advising the youth and everyone who attended to put God first and everything will fall into place.”

Tofilau’s sentiments were echoed by Vaito’a who said, “Haylanni’s book about her journey to Miss Samoa is an historical document that our people especially our youth can read about and be inspired to be the best that they can be in any field.

“This is indeed a significant milestone in Haylanni’s life, and I salute her.”

Haylanni was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia and has a younger sister. Her father, Len Kuruppu is from Colombo, Sri Lanka and her mother Itta Mataupu hails from the village of Moata’a, Samoa.

The book highlights her struggles, challenges and insecurities as a young “afakasi” or half Samoan, half Sri Lankan woman.

More importantly, it points out the uniqueness of being different and the hard work it takes to be successful.

Haylanni whose features reflect a perfect mix of Asian and Polynesian traits and her skin has that unique gold-tan tinged with caramel-looking Polynesian brown, is fiercely proud of her mixed heritage.

“As far as I’m concerned, whatever percentage of Samoan blood flows through your veins, you are Samoan,” she stated.

She was educated in Australia except for two years when the family moved over to Samoa in 2004 and 2005, where she attended Moata’a Primary School.

“My mother wanted my sister and I to learn our culture and language and to see the humble beginnings she grew up in,” the 25 year-old beauty stated.

She continued her education in Australia when the family moved back in 2006 and is now two years away from completing her Bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane.

In an exclusive interview with Samoa News, Haylanni revealed that the idea of writing a book about her experiences while preparing to compete for the Miss Samoa Pageant came about after the Miss Pacific Pageant when she was doing community work by reading to students at her old primary school at Moata’a.

“I started thinking, why am I reading stories about people from other parts of the world?” She recounted. “Why hasn’t anyone written a book about their life experiences? Why can’t I do this?”

So she searched for a publisher and fortunately for her, she found one and it turned out to be one of uncles from Moata’a — Tony Laulu.

After collaborations, she traveled to New Zealand and put her plan into action with a two-month timeline so that it would be ready in time for the Samoan Language Week in Aotearoa (New Zealand).

“It was hard work but with God, anything is possible,” Haylanni recalled. “I finished writing the book within the timeframe and it was translated into Samoan by the Center for Pacific Languages in Auckland, New Zealand.”

The illustrations in the book are actual photographs which have been cartoonized.

Asked what her future plans were, Haylanni stated that she will focus first on getting her Bachelor’s degree so she can be a qualified physiotherapist and come back to Samoa to serve.

“I want the young people in Samoa and American Samoa to know that pageantry is not about glitz and glamour, it’s not about your looks, it’s actually about hard work,” she said. “It’s about showing up, it’s about pushing through the trials and challenges, and if I can do it, they can do it. If I can write this book, they can too!

“Most of all, it’s about serving,” she explained. “My favorite scripture reads, ‘When you’re in the service of your fellow beings, you’re in the service of God.”