UPNG student Iampela Popena crowned Miss Bird of Paradise Papua New Guinea 2025 in Port Moresby
Iampela Popena, 19, of Mount Hagen, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea is a student of the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. She is the newly crowned Miss Bird of Paradise Papua New Guinea 2025.
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Iampela Popena
Popena’s father Peter Popena is originally from Mount Hagen. Her mother is from Enga Province, Papua New Guinea.
From 2022 to 2023, Iampela attended the Port Moresby National School of Excellence in Port Moresby. In January 2024, she entered UPNG to pursue a bachelor’s degree in economics.
On November 13, 2025, Iampela won Miss Bird of Paradise Western Highlands Province 2025. She is expected to graduate from UPNG in April 2027.
Miss Bird of Paradise Papua New Guinea 2025
On December 2, 2025, Iampela represented the Western Highlands Province at Miss Bird of Paradise Papua New Guinea 2025 at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Haus in Port Moresby. It is the third edition of the national beauty pageant that selects Papua New Guinea’s Miss Pacific Islands candidate.
Including the West Highlands Province, nine provinces were represented in the national competition. In the end, Iampela won the title along with the People’s Choice, Best Talent and Best Sarong awards.
Runner-up to Iampela was Kurie Endopio, 24, of the Enga Province. The latter also won the Best Traditionally Inspired Dress and Best Onstage Interview awards.
Vilousa Hehembe, 25, of the East Sepik Province and Annsio Posa, 21, of the Gulf Province were the second and third runners-up, respectively. The other candidates were Ruth Elijah of the Central Province, Lois Piare Lavutul of the East New Britain Province, Georgina Elaine Kasu of the Morobe Province, Carol Hwena of the Sandaun Province and Naomi Koge of the Western Province.
In February 2026, Iampela will represent Papua New Guinea at Miss Pacific Islands 2026 in Nadi, Fiji. It is the 37th edition of the international beauty pageant for countries in Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
