It was a night of women empowerment and “curves” in Sydney on Friday night as a new Pacific beauty queen was crowned. 28-year-old Cook Island beauty Mariana Taia walked away the winner of this years ‘Miss South Pacific Plus AU’ The unique pageant now in its second year running, celebrates curvaceous Pacific young women and promotes a strong mission statement of ‘self-love, self-worth and self-confidence.’ Mariana says winning the title means so much to her and her family especially after a tough year. “Earlier this year I lost my newborn son and not long after that, my grandmother too.