Former Miss Solomon Islands, Gladys Habu, has received regional recognition after being named Young Woman of the Year at the recent Women Changing the World Awards for Australia and the Pacific.
Ms Habu was also announced as runner-up in the Changemaker category, in recognition of her leadership and advocacy through Project Period Tax Reform (Project PTR).
The Women Changing the World Awards recognise and celebrate women making significant social impact across the globe, particularly those driving change in policy, community advocacy, and social justice.
The former beauty queen was nominated by her colleague and close friend, Mary Elizabeth Ramosaea, in acknowledgement of the work led by Project PTR.
Speaking through her personal blog on social media following the awards, Ms Habu described the recognition as “deeply humbling,” noting that being nominated by a fellow advocate and team leader made the achievement even more meaningful.
“To be recognised in this way, especially through a nomination by someone who has walked this journey with me, is incredibly special,” she shared.
Through Project PTR, Ms Habu and her team have championed menstrual equity in the Solomon Islands—an effort that recently resulted in the removal of nearly 30 per cent tax on essential menstrual hygiene products.
She described the policy reform as “a victory for dignity, equity, and basic human rights for women and girls,” adding that menstrual products should never be treated as luxury items.
The campaign has focused on restoring dignity for Pacific women and girls by addressing menstrual health challenges and breaking long-standing societal taboos surrounding menstruation.
“Menstruation is a natural part of life, yet for too long it has been surrounded by silence and shame,” Ms Habu said.
“Our work is about changing that narrative.” she said.
It is estimated that more than 200,000 girls and women of reproductive age in the Solomon Islands are affected by limited access to affordable menstrual products.
Ms Habu also acknowledged Peace Mitchell, Katy Garner, and the Women Changing the World team for providing a platform to amplify the Solomon Islands’ story on a regional and global stage.
“This platform allowed our voices from the Pacific to be heard, and our local struggles to be recognised globally,” she stated.
The former Miss Solomon Islands reiterated her belief that menstrual products should not be taxed, describing the award as meaningful recognition of Project PTR’s 2025 achievement and the collective efforts of her team.
The regional honour highlights the growing impact of Solomon Islands women in driving policy reform and social change across the Pacific.
Ms Habu was crowned Miss Solomon Islands in 2019, going on to represent the country at the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant held in Papua New Guinea the same year.
She made history for the Solomon Islands by placing first runner-up, beating 12 other contestants from across the Pacific.
This achievement during that period marked the country’s highest result at the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant and remains a proud national milestone.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
