For well over 30 years, Mavis Mulitalo ‘aka’ Mavis Connery has been turning heads with her six-inch Cinderella glass heels, frizzy hair, and infectious personality. Mavis is an extrusive figure in the…
UTOPIA Blog
Boss Lady: The Story of Samoa’s Successful Fa’afafine Businesswoman
In 2009, Oshima Laumatia shopped around the idea of starting a loan business to a couple of her close friends but most were hesitant on investing in something that seemed doubtful. A…
The Heart & Soul of Tomasina: Born to white parents, raised by a Sāmoan family
At a glance, Tomasina may look Palagi, but a simple “hello” and you will get a greeting in Samoan that one did not expect coming. For her entire life, she has never…
Whatever happened to her? The Glory and Pain of a Forgotten Pageant Queen
The crowning of Miss S.O.F.I.A.S Pearl To’omalatai in 2010 was an unlikely choice for a beauty queen at the time. Already in her 40s and by her own admission, not the “popular…
Shiki, Behind the Fashion & Makeup: The Story of a Faʻafafine Trailblazer
For the past seventeen years, in American Samoa, the terms “Hollywood,” “Glamour” and “Couture Fashion” have been synonymous with a single name, Shiki. In the past, while the community has had its…
A dream is never impossible: the story of social media phenomenon, Dedreck Mose
In 2018, Dedreck Mose was living in Hawaiʻi holding down three jobs barely enjoying a life outside of work. For escapism, he began posting videos on a new social media platform that…
Like Water into Sand: Reflections on Living and Dying
Seventeen years ago, my sister walked out our front door and never came home. She was only twenty-one when she was the victim of a car accident. Her wave goodbye as she…
Hear Me Roar: The Story of Princess Tiger
“Talofa! My name is Deborah Shontelle Schilid Victoria Patsy Cline, the one and only Princess Tiger, the most popular of Samoa, le lalelei o lo’o misa ai tama ma tamāloloa (the beauty…
Unsung Sheroes: A Love Letter in Honor of the Faʻafafine Community
Le Nofo: The Rise to the Throne For the first time since its inception, I was unable to attend the highly anticipated annual UTOPIA Washington L’au. Alike millions connecting through the ever-advancing world…
Is Virtual Learning the Future of Education? Our Educators Weigh the Pros and Cons
Distanced learning and education have become more accessible than ever before, with the obstacle of the COVID-19 Pandemic and thanks to advancements in technology. In times of unexpected circumstances, as we all…