NORTH QUEENS READY FOR MISS FIJI PAGEANT
Miss Savusavu 2018 will represent the Hidden Paradise at the Miss Fiji Pageant next month in Suva.
Twenty-three-year-old Alisi Rabune said she was fully prepared to take on the challenge.
Originally from Yaroi Village in Savusavu, she said there was truly no place like the Hidden Paradise of Fiji, Savusavu.
She has maternal links to the Solomon Islands.
Having recently graduated from the University of the South Pacific, she currently works as a volunteer at her father’s land consultancy business.
Ms Rabune said she has identified a great problem in Savusavu, and that is brain drain.
“I hope that there would be more initiatives of development and employment in our beautiful town that would keep our young people striving harder to make a difference in our beautiful town and more fun centres to be initiated for leisure,” Ms Rabune said.
Miss Friendly North 2019
Meanwhile, Miss Friendly North 2019 Alitia Kautoga will be representing Labasa.
Originally from Ba, she first set foot in Labasa when she received her first post as a primary school teacher.
She is excited and said that it would be a privilege for her to be representing the people of Labasa.
“It’s a huge responsibility to represent a town where you’re not originally from, but I am glad to be part of this journey to represent the people of Labasa,” Ms Kautoga said. “I hope my own people from Ba would also cheer me on along with the people of Labasa as I take on the stage next month to compete with 17 other contestants from other municipalities.
“This is not me, it is beyond my lifestyle. It is not just about putting on make-up and looking pretty, but to be able to advocate on the messages confidently and build up other women by empowering each other.
“I believe that we learn more when we come out of our comfort zones by stepping out to a much bigger world,” she said.
She also said she wants to be the voice of the voiceless whereby women can fully express themselves without being shut down by criticisms.
Competing for Miss Fiji
Meanwhile, the pageant provides a platform to 17 contestants who were winners of the township and city festivals held in 2018 and 2019, an opportunity to advocate on issues they were passionate about and the ability to influence the Pacific positively.
The winning 2019 Miss Fiji will be representing our nation at the 2019 Miss South Pacific Island Pageant Contest in Papua New Guinea in November.
The 2019 Miss Fiji Pageant will be held from November 11 to 15 at the Suva Civic Auditorium.
I believe that we learn more when we come out of our comfort zones by stepping out to a much bigger world.
Alitia Kautoga
Miss Friendly North 2019