More Than a Masquerade The 2026 Queen’s Soirée in Honolulu
A night shaped by history at Queen’s Soirée 2026
Some places hold a sense of history before the evening even begins. On October 17, The Crowned Collective Hawaiʻi brought the pageant community together in Honolulu for its 2nd Annual Queen’s Soirée: Masquerade Gala and the 2026 Hawaiʻi Impact in Pageantry Awards. Queen’s Soirée 2026 took place at Inspiration Hawaii Museum, housed in Honolulu’s historic former Hawaiian Electric building—a setting with a story of its own, approaching a century in the making. Inside, the atmosphere was elegant, lively, and full of warmth. The gowns and crowns were beautiful, but one of the night’s most memorable parts was seeing the people behind them celebrated.
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The entrance design came together beautifully with our Ohana Collective partners, Ambient Rentals an
Honoring the community behind the crown
A queen carries more than a title. She represents her culture and community, and brings her preparation, voice, and commitments with her onto the stage. The awards made space to recognize that work—and the people who help make it possible: coaches, beauty professionals, photographers, directors, organizations, and many others.
The room held the energy of a red-carpet celebration, along with something just as meaningful: women encouraging one another. Even within a competitive community, queens and professionals shared compliments, celebrated each other’s accomplishments, and made the evening feel generous and welcoming.
The awards honored the many kinds of dedication that sustain pageantry. Emily Smith was named the winner of both Best Evening Gown and Best Coach. Victoria Hope Corpuz received the Community Service Award. Moana Cheryll, a Best Beauty Pro finalist, was among the professionals recognized for their artistry and contribution.
Two Collectives, connected by community
The Agency Collective’s connection to this community began before the Soirée. At our earlier Hawaiʻi Hair & Fashion Show, we had the privilege of working with three queens: Emily Smith, Victoria Hope Corpuz, and Kelsie-Ann. Seeing Emily and Victoria recognized at the awards made the evening especially personal for us.
The connection goes deeper than familiar faces. We see something of our own values in what Eva and Meg are building with The Crowned Collective. Their vision brings pageant expertise to Hawaiʻi, creates opportunities for queens and professionals to learn from one another, and gives the pageant community ways to connect and give back.
That spirit feels familiar to us. Through The Agency Collective’s Ohana Collective, we bring trusted partners into the work—not simply as names in a directory, but as people whose craft, care, and values we know. We build productions by bringing our people together and giving each partner a meaningful way to contribute.
Maybe there’s a reason both our names carry the word Collective. At the Soirée, the shared idea was easy to feel: gather talented people, create space for others to shine, and let the connections continue beyond one evening.
Moana Cheryll is part of that Ohana. She has helped us create a series of beautiful events, and seeing her named a Best Beauty Pro finalist made us proud. Her recognition brought our partner community into the evening’s celebration of the professionals behind pageantry.
Hope, in orange, shares an award moment on the red carpet—a celebration of the women who make Hawaiʻ Eva and Meg of The Crowned Collective stand at the center of a group celebrating the pageant communi Emily Smith steps into the spotlight in her gown and sash at the historic museum. Photo: Mark Salond
A room designed to let people shine
Our design began with the people at the center of the night. We wanted the setting to feel elegant and dramatic, while giving the queens, performers, and guests room to be seen.
The arrival moment set the tone: a velvet red sofa from Ambient Rentals paired with a black-and-gold entrance arch and gilded backdrop by Balloons & Decor by Jovy. Inside, candlelit candelabra centerpieces carried the masquerade feeling through the room. Red roses from Hawaii Arch Rentals framed the stage as finalists stepped forward, while a clean white backdrop gave DJ Cici of Chic Sounds Hawaii room to shine. Aunty Bunny’s Table helped care for guests through the evening’s food service.
Each contribution added its own feeling to the night. Together, they helped create a setting that felt celebratory and polished while keeping the focus on the people being honored.
Eva and Meg, alongside their amazing team, brought this event together with vision and care. We were honored to contribute design and décor support as one part of a much larger production, alongside our Ohana Collective partners.
The people who help preserve the moment
A photograph can hold the instant a finalist steps forward, the emotion of an award, or the pride shared across a room. The Best Photographer finalists recognized at the awards were Brice Kurihara, Dana Lee Hang, Grant Uchida, Jordan Fong, and Mark Salondaka.
The evening also celebrated the beauty professionals whose work helps each queen step into the spotlight. Hair, makeup, styling, and mentorship all contribute to the confidence and artistry seen onstage—and pageantry depends on the talented people working behind the scenes as much as those under the lights. Moana Cheryll, a member of our Ohana Collective, was among the finalists for Best Beauty Professional. Her recognition reflects the care and skill these artists bring to the pageant community.
Why we were proud to sponsor
We wanted to support the Queen’s Soirée because its purpose felt close to our own: bring people together, make room for talent to be recognized, and help a community contribute to something larger than one event.
That is what the Ohana Collective means to us. Our partners are part of how we show up. We bring them into the productions we care about because their work and their presence make the experience richer. Supporting The Crowned Collective felt like a natural extension of that belief.
For The Agency Collective, luxury is personal. It lives in thoughtful design, in the care behind each detail, and in the way guests and collaborators feel welcomed into the experience. We bring that same heart to celebrations, nonprofit gatherings, and larger productions.
The Agency Collective’s owners, celebrating a beautiful evening with Hawaiʻi’s pageant community. Ph
What we’ll carry with us
The evening stays with us as more than a beautiful gala. We remember the historic setting, the artistry onstage, the people behind each achievement, and the generosity in the room as women made space for one another to shine.
Mahalo to The Crowned Collective Hawaiʻi—especially Eva and Meg and their team—for bringing this community together for the second annual awards. We’re grateful to the queens, finalists, award recipients, production team, vendors, sponsors, and guests who made the night so lively and meaningful. We’re honored that The Agency Collective and our Ohana Collective partners could be part of it.
The Agency Collective is based on Oʻahu and serves events across Hawaiʻi and beyond. For organizations planning a gala, nonprofit celebration, or production with a purpose, we’d love to hear what you’re bringing to life.
Designing Platforms That Elevate Hawai'i’s Talent
The Agency Collective creates thoughtful experiences that bring people together, elevate local talent, and give meaningful moments room to shine.
Event & Creative Credits
Presented by: The Crowned Collective Hawaiʻi
Event Producers: Eva Salcedo and Meg Akim, with The Crowned Collective Hawaiʻi team
Venue: Inspiration Hawaii Museum
Event Design & Décor Sponsor: The Agency Collective
Ohana Collective Event Partners:
Ambient Rentals — velvet red sofa
Balloons & Decor by Jovy — black-and-gold entrance arch and gilded backdrop
Hawaii Arch Rentals — red roses for the stage
Chic Sounds Hawaii — DJ Cici and music
Aunty Bunny’s Table — catering assistance and guest service
2026 Hawaiʻi Impact in Pageantry Awards Finalists
Best Evening Gown — Chanel Yadao; Emily Smith (Winner); Matea Young; Olivia Tom; Tianna Lei Wailehua
Best Headshot — Charieze Cacayorin; Darja Bassut; Emily Smith; Kalani Beals; Tianna Lei Wailehua
Best in Fitness — Gina Ross; India Ching; Michelle Titze; Nicholette Sonada; Tianna Lei Wailehua
Best in Talent — India Ching; Janelle Liang; Leilani Soon; Lesina Matatumuia-Vermeulen; Tianna Lei Wailehua
Best Pageant Production — Miss Hawaii Filipina; Miss Hawaii Org; Miss Hawaii USA; Miss International Hawaii; Miss Universe Philippines Hawaii
Best Rising Director — Charieze Cacayorin; Eva Salcedo; Meg Akim; Paris Vapaille-Watson; Reymart Del Rosario
Best Director — Alicia Michioka; Raizza Pulido; Royce Campbell & Dustin Caravalho; Tony Alcosiba; Vilma Tucay
Best Coach — Emily Smith (Winner); Jonelle Layfield; KB Pageant Consulting; Raizza Pulido; Ryllah Rodrigues
Best Beauty Pro — Chanel Yadao; Dustin Caravalho; Moana Cheryll; Ryan Shimabuku; Shaylee Hershman
Best Photographer — Brice Kurihara; Dana Lee Hang; Grant Uchida; Jordan Fong; Mark Salondaka
Legacy Queen — Cathy Foy; Debbie Nākānelua-Richards; Jonan Sagadraca; Juliet Lighter Kamm; Michele Choy
Community Service Award — Alisha Beston; Crysania Saballa; Emily Smith; Hayden Kasal-Barsky; Victoria Hope Corpuz
Related Experience — Hawaiʻi Hair & Fashion Show
Hosted & Produced by: The Agency Collective
Co-Host & Education Partner: Ergo-Nami
Featured Queens: Emily Smith, Victoria Hope Corpuz, and Kelsie-Ann
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