The reign of Tonga's Miss Heilala 2018/19 wiped off the official records - report says ^Featured

"I have experienced just how hard it can be to be a young Tongan woman. I have dealt with people in official roles and in other places, in the work force that have been unprofessional and rude and just straight out mind-boggling," she said.

A local reporter from  Matangi Tonga said they overheard Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika telling the DJ to play loud music over Funganitao. That allegation, which Stuff has repeatedly contacted the ministry for comment on, has led many in Tonga to call for Sika to step down.

In an interview with Stuff, Funganitao said the crowd and other contestants had bullied her when she was crowned Miss Heilala last year.

"The night that it happened, I got a lot of boos. As I was going up to revive my sash for those first places there were just more and more boos and then when I was crowned it was overwhelming how angry people were," she recalled.

"The team that I was with and my family had to form a protective barrier around me as I was going down the stage, and going out to the car, because there were actually people who were trying to cut through so that they could, I don't know..."

The Tonga Tourist Association, which was overseen by Sika, has not responded to Funganitao's allegations.

Its only public response has been to strip her of her title.

- Stuff