Tonga women's agency

'Beauty pageants have had their day' - Tonga women's agency

This follows last weekend's Miss Heilala pageant in Nuku'alofa, which was beset by controversy when the outgoing queen spoke of mistreatment and bullying by organisers.

Miss Pacific Islands from Papua New Guinea who attended the event was also subjected to a racial slur from the crowd.

The coordinator of Ma'a Fafine Moe Famili, Betty Blake, who was not at the pageant, said the incidents highlight wider social issues and the event should be reviewed.

"The social gap I think is gender... young woman with people in power," Ms Blake said.