The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, recently held in the Solomon Islands, has been embroiled in controversy due to a voting dispute. Currently, Jerry Brunt, the chief judge of the pageant, is restricted from leaving the country while organizers investigate allegations of vote manipulation. This situation has cast a shadow over what was intended to be a celebration of Pacific culture.
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02-10, 2025Brunt confirmed to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that he had planned to fly from the Solomon Islands capital to his home country of Samoa on Monday, but was unable to do so and is currently "not allowed" to leave the country. He stated that he was not given any reason when attempting to depart and is now consulting with a lawyer. He said via text message: "I will contact you (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) when I arrive home safely." It is understood that Brunt is not currently detained, but is residing at his local residence. The restriction on his travel has raised serious concerns.
The Samoan government formally requested the Solomon Islands government on Tuesday to provide "official information regarding the circumstances surrounding Mr. Brunt's prevention from leaving Honiara," escalating the matter into a diplomatic incident. This follows unverified allegations of vote manipulation circulating on internet forums after the pageant's final night (Saturday). Miss Samoa, Latafale Auvaa-i-Lasiomoa, was eventually declared the winner after tying for first place with Miss Tonga, Rachel Guttenbeil. The diplomatic pressure underscores the seriousness with which Samoa views the situation.
Subsequently, Brunt has been accused of favoring his Samoan compatriot in the decisive vote. This accusation has been fueled by a blurry video of the voting process circulating online and related speculation. Brunt is a lawyer and hotelier from Samoa. Later on Monday, he told local media In-depth Solomons: "I have done nothing wrong." He stated: "I highly value the integrity of the entire Pacific Islands Pageant, and I am saddened by these false allegations. I could not have manipulated any score sheets in front of thousands of people. I really don't know where these conspiracies and allegations are coming from, and God can attest to that." He vehemently denies any wrongdoing in the judging process.
The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant is the region's most important beauty contest, with contestants from eight countries competing for the crown this year. It receives enthusiastic attention from Pacific Islanders across the region and is promoted as a celebration of Pacific culture and unity. Contestants compete in various categories with a Pacific flavor, with a sarong segment replacing the swimsuit segment and a traditional attire segment replacing the evening gown segment. Last week, thousands of Solomon Islanders gathered in the streets of Honiara to participate in Friday's float parade, warming up for Saturday night's formal event. However, the voting controversy and online abuse after the announcement of the results (and during the competition) have marred this year's pageant. Despite multiple requests for clarification, the organizers have so far failed to respond to the controversy. A statement released on Tuesday morning said that a public statement would be issued "soon," stating: "A series of meetings must now be held, and the investigation report from the past 48 hours must be completed before it can be released. We sincerely apologize for the failure to respond to the public in a timely manner, but this is unavoidable until all information has been determined by all parties involved." The delay in addressing the concerns has further fueled public frustration and speculation.
