SAMOA NEWS
By Finau Fonua
June 11, 2023
"It took me a long time to be proud of myself" - IAM Tongi
Excerpts from Samoa News.
"Afraid of being embarrassed and shy is one of the reasons why so many Polynesian kids hold back."
I talk about this all the time. I want them to get out of the mindset because I was like that right. If you stay in that mindset you are just not going to achieve anything because you're too scared to go out there and do the things that you love. Us Polynesian people have so much talent. I know people out there who are better singers than me but they're just too afraid to put themselves out there. We're just too scared and we need to get out of the mindset. We should be proud of what we can do. It took along time for me to be proud of myself.
I'm not a powerhouse singer. It's so cool to be a person who isn't a powerhouse singer and can still win American Idol. I think it inspires other people who don't have the best voice, but have the ability to form a connection with people. That's what I have, that ability to connect with people.
Iam Tongi, age 18. The first from Hawaii and first Polynesian to win American Idol.