Miss Bula dares doubters

IN 1986, the reigning Miss Bula threw out a challenge to unsuccessful candidates who felt she did not deserve to win the crown.

An article published in

on the August 7 of that year said Angeline Joyce was prepared to let others have a go at the crown but they first had to retrieve it from the bottom of the sea.

Ms Joyce said she would throw the crown into the sea off Club Naitasi where she worked and that the contestant who found it first could keep it.

She called the day after her crowning to say she was issuing the challenge because some people still questioned her victory.

She said people on the mainland had informed her that there was talk in Nadi about how she won the crown. The Bula Festival Association in Nadi had earlier stated that it was clear that despite being a single mother, Miss Joyce had every right to be a contestant because there was nothing in the rules to stop her.

Ms Joyce told The Fiji Times the “Bula Crown Diving Exhibition” at Club Naitasi could be held within the month and for more information the disgruntled contestants could contact her.

“I’ll throw the crown into the sea and they can look for it.” she said.

“Whoever gets it, takes it. If they don’t find it, I don’t care.”

Ms Joyce said scuba diving equipment would be available for hire at the rate of $29 for a one-tank dive and $48 for a two-tank dive.

She said $20 would fetch a set of snorkelling gear and another $20 would hire a boat for two hours.

“They can go on for a week,” she said.

“It may sound stupid and look silly, but that’s the way it is.”