Born: 1897, Samoa
Died: 1988
Country most active: Samoa
Also known as: Agnes Genevieve Swann
Aggie Grey left an indelible mark as a prominent hotelier and businesswoman. The daughter of William Swann, an English chemist, and her Samoan mother Pele, Aggie faced early challenges with her mother’s death in 1903. Raised by her father and stepmother, she grew to be a significant figure in Samoan history.
In 1933, Aggie Grey founded her hotel, Aggie Grey’s Hotel, becoming a pioneering force in Samoa’s hotel industry. Her establishment gained international recognition, hosting notable figures like Dorothy Lamour, Marlon Brando, and Gary Cooper. Aggie Grey’s Hotel played a role in the production of the American film “Return to Paradise” (1953), starring Gary Cooper.
Aggie Grey’s social influence extended to her friendship with American writer James Michener, possibly inspiring the character Bloody Mary in “Tales of the South Pacific” (1946), adapted into the Broadway musical “South Pacific” (1949) and the 1958 film.
Despite her passing in 1988, Aggie Grey’s legacy endures through the expansion of her hotel into three resorts in Samoa and Tahiti. In 2013, Aggie Grey’s became part of the Sheraton chain, further cementing its place as a symbol of Samoan hospitality and Aggie Grey’s entrepreneurial spirit.