Josephina “Joey” Lealaitafea (’26) knew nothing about pageants. So when a woman in her ward recommended she interview at the Miss Samoa USA 2024 pageant, the cell biology and physiology major from West Jordan, Utah, was skeptical.
But after learning more, Lealaitafea welcomed the opportunity to grow closer to her Samoan heritage.
“It’s not all about beauty,” she says. “It’s really focused on cultural identity and learning about what
it means to be Samoan.”
On Aug. 1, 2024, Lealaitafea was crowned Miss Samoa USA. In this role Lealaitafea attends global events, inspires young Samoan women to embrace their heritage, and speaks on Pacific Islander cultural preservation, health, and education.
Though Lealaitafea grew up in Utah, her parents raised her in the culture through traditional dance classes, Samoan language classes, and Samoan wards.
Lealaitafea also connects to her heritage at BYU. She is part of an ethnobiological research project studying medicinal plants in Samoa, led by biology professor Richard A. Gill (BS ’93). Through intensive literature review and reaching out to the Samoan community, Lealaitafea is the team’s “cultural and historical expert,” Gill says. “Joey is a powerful manifestation of the disciple-scholar that BYU is trying to produce. . . . Her desire to serve, connect with her ancestry, and pursue medical training is brought together beautifully in the lab.”
It’s important to “stay connected to our home,” says Lealaitafea, “especially out here in America. We live our heritage. It’s alive in us. It’s not forgotten.”
