Miss International Organization is gearing up to host the grand coronation of Miss International 2020 as it marks the 60th anniversary of the pageant at Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan. Miss International 2019 Sireethorn Leearamwat of Thailand will crown her successor at the end of the event.
With delegates being crowned for the pageant; Emma Kainuku-Walsh from Cook Islands has been appointed to represent Cook Islands at the Miss International 2020 beauty pageant. She was adjudged the crown of 1st runner-up at Miss Cook Islands 2019 where Tajiya Sahay was crowned Miss Cook Island 2019 and represented Cook Islands at Miss World 2019. The delegate of Cook Islands didn’t participate at Miss International 2019 and thus will be participating in the forthcoming Miss International 2020 beauty pageant.
Emma is 25-years-old and works as businesswoman who owns a food outlet named Nuku Kai. She aspires to be Environmental Engineer and intend to study it at USP in future. Emma is of Samoan and New Zealand descent and returned to the Cook Islands three years ago and has developed a deep understanding of human connection with the land. She strongly believes in the fact that environment is a way of nourishment and healing oneself. Emma pursued a career in fashion in particular on-line fashion, she worked in hospitality, and got involved as a volunteer in various health and youth focussed organisations, culminating with her appointment to a National Youth Health Advisory Committee, sharing the voice of the rising generation with the leaders of the Ministry of Health.
Emma describes herself as earthy, natural, free-spirited and grounded. It comes as no surprise that increasing her knowledge about traditional food practices and applying this to her business is important to Emma. She desires to inspire the people to honour the unique cultural heritage, preserving indigenous knowledge and the way of life for future generations and encouraging young people to embrace their individual identities.
Emma joined the Miss Cook Islands pageant to honour the legacy of her “Grandy” Airi Kainuku and to pay respects to her tupuna, to grow and develop as a young Cook Islands woman, to pave the way for tamariki and to meet and collaborate with her peers strong and driven young women of the Cook Islands. Emma was adjudged the crown of 1st runner-up at Miss Cook Islands 2019 which earned her the opportunity to represent Cook Islands at Miss International 2020.
She maybe a newbie to international pageant but she has worked with some of the finest photographers and brands for the promotion of her brand as well as the Cook Island. With the help of the mentors and her colleagues, Emma has developed a sense of modelling and beauty pageants. She is quick to learn things and takes keen interest in working on herself as guided by the mentors.
Emma feels that beauty pageants can be a platform which helps her voice out some important issues regarding mother earth and relevant to the country. She believes that she can make a difference and be a role model for positive changes. She wants to advocate people about the sustainable and successful ways to include healthy blend of modern-day technologies and ancestral practices.
With her strong mindset and experience in the fashion industry, Emma can be a front-runner in the competition at Miss International 2020. She is positive, kind and caring towards people and nature. She has started to prepare herself for the competition and since she has a year to prepare for it, she will be taking all the advises and tips from her mentors and friends which will help her further.