Miss Fiji
| Formation | 1956 |
|---|---|
| Type | Beauty pageant |
| Headquarters | Suva |
| Location | |
Membership | |
Official language | |
National Directors |
|
Miss Fiji is a national Beauty pageant in Fiji.
History
[edit]In 1956, the Miss Fiji Pageant Association was established under the auspices of the local government and Fiji Airways, marking a significant moment in the nation's cultural and social history. This event was previously known as the Miss Hibiscus National Pageant, which had been a cherished tradition in Fiji, celebrating the beauty, talent, and cultural heritage of Fijian women. The first Miss Fiji crowned was Liebling Marlow, who set a high standard for future contestants with her grace and poise.
The pageant evolved over the years, gaining prestige and becoming a vital platform for young women to showcase their abilities and represent their country on the global stage. In 1979, Fiji made its debut in the Miss Universe pageant with Tanya Whiteside as its representative. This milestone was a proud moment for the nation, as it highlighted Fiji's growing presence in the international pageantry scene and provided a unique opportunity for its contestants to engage with diverse cultures and global audiences.
Since then, the Miss Fiji pageant has continued to be a significant event, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage and the aspirations of its people. The collaboration with organizations like Fiji Airways underscores the importance of national pride and international representation, helping to elevate the status of the pageant and its participants.[1]
Titleholders
[edit]| Year | Miss Fiji (Miss Hibiscus) | Miss Universe Fiji | Miss World Fiji | Miss Earth Fiji | Miss International Fiji | Miss Grand Fiji |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Liebling Marlow | - | - | Miss Earth
founded in 2001 |
Miss International
founded in 1960 |
Miss Grand International
founded in 2013 |
| 1957 | Filimaina Koto[2] | - | - | |||
| 1958 | - | - | - | |||
| 1959 | Robin Ann Riemenschnei | - | - | |||
| 1960 | Emma Whitcombe | - | - | - | ||
| 1961 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1962 | Eta Uluvula Qereqeretabua[3] | - | - | - | ||
| 1963 | Ruci Koroi | - | - | - | ||
| 1964 | Patricia Pickering | - | - | - | ||
| 1965 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1966 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1967 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1968 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1969 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1970 | Adi Talatoka Lalabalavu (Miss US Consulate) |
- | - | - | ||
| 1972 | Esther Quai-Hoi | - | - | - | ||
| 1974 | Sandra Hazelman | - | - | - | ||
| 1975 | Michele Smith | - | - | - | ||
| 1978 | Tanya Whiteside (Miss Tiki Togs) |
- | - | - | ||
| 1979 | Margaret Singh | Tanya Whiteside | - | - | ||
| 1980 | Lynn Michelle MacDonald | - | - | - | ||
| 1981 | Loretta Ragg | Lynn Michelle McDonald | - | - | ||
| 1982 | Lorna Cristoferson | - | - | - | ||
| 1983 | Annie Raymond | - | - | - | ||
| 1984 | Irene Butt | - | - | - | ||
| 1985 | Ulamila Kaisau | - | - | - | ||
| 1986 | Jane Sharon | - | - | - | ||
| 1987 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1988 | Lenora Qereqeretabua (Miss BNZ) |
- | - | - | ||
| 1989 | Natalie Grey (Miss BNZ) |
- | - | - | ||
| 1990 | Litia Dewa (Miss FTIB) |
- | - | - | ||
| 1991 | Sala Toganivalu | - | - | - | ||
| 1992 | Ilisapeci Kubuabola (Miss Reserve Bank of Fiji) |
- | - | - | ||
| 1993 | - | - | - | |||
| 1994 | Miranda Foon (Miss Courts) |
- | - | Sunita Devi | ||
| 1995 | Jacqueline Mavoa (Miss Reserve Bank of Fiji) |
- | - | Rejieli Ratu | ||
| 1996 | Sharlotte Johenson | - | - | Sharlotte R. Johenson | ||
| 1997 | Letila Mitchell (Miss Pasifika Communications) |
- | - | - | ||
| 1998 | Ranadi Johnston | - | - | - | ||
| 1999 | Joanne Terubea (Miss Reserve Bank of Fiji) |
- | - | - | ||
| 2000 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2001 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2002 | Sheetal Shivani Ram | - | - | - | - | |
| 2003 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2004 | Aishwarya Sukhdeo | - | Aishwarya Sukhdeo | - | - | |
| 2005 | Shital Ram | - | - | - | - | |
| 2006 | Lusia Delai | - | - | - | ||
| 2007 | Patricia Ann Naisara | - | - | Minal Maneesha Ali | - | |
| 2008 | Filomena Tuivanualevu Tagivetaua | - | - | - | - | |
| 2009 | Merewalesi Nailatikau | - | - | - | - | |
| 2010 | Sera Tikotikoivatu | - | - | - | - | |
| 2011 | Alisi Rabukawaqa | - | - | - | - | |
| 2012 | Drue Slatter | - | Koini Elesi Vakaloloma[a] | Esther Cheyanne Foss | Kesaia Kacilala | |
| 2013 | Priscilla Preetika Reddy | - | Caireen Erbsleben | - | - | - |
| 2014 | Nanise Noel Ragarau Rainima | - | Charlene Sulueti Tafuna'i | Zoe McCraken | - | - |
| 2015 | Zaira Begg[4] | - | Brittany Hazelman | Shyla Angela Prasad | - | - |
| 2016 | Anne Dunn | - | Pooja Priyanka | - | - | - |
| 2017 | Hailey Qaqa | - | Nanise Noel Ragarau Rainima[5] | - | - | Nadine Roberts[6] |
| 2018 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2019 | Jessica Fong[7] | - | - | Zaira Begg | - | - |
| 2020 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2021 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2022 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2023 | - | - | - | Sera Volavola | - | - |
| 2024 | Melania Tora[8] | Manshika Prasad
Nadine Roberts (Dethroned)[9] |
- | Ashlin Alveena Prasad[10] | - | - |
Fijians at international pageants
[edit]The Miss Fiji has competed at international beauty pageants since 1979 when Miss Universe Fiji made its debut with Tanya Whiteside, followed by Sunita Devi at Miss International in 1994, Aishwarya Sukhdeo at Miss World in 2004,[11] Minal Maneesha Ali at Miss Earth in 2007 and Nadine Roberts at Miss Grand International in 2017.[6]
Color key
- : Declared as Winner
- : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
- : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
- : Ended as special awards winner
Miss Fiji World
[edit]| Year | Delegate | Division | Placement & Performance | Directorship | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placement | Special award(s) | ||||
| 2017 | Nanise Noel Ragarau Rainima[citation needed] | Unplaced |
|
Andhy Blake | |
| 2016 | Pooja Priyanka | Western Division | Unplaced |
|
Andhy Blake |
| 2015 | Brittany Hazelman | Central Division | Unplaced |
|
Andhy Blake |
| 2014 | Charlene Sulueti Tafuna'i | Western Division | Unplaced | Andhy Blake | |
| 2013 | Caireen Erbsleben | Western Division | Unplaced | Andhy Blake | |
| 2012 | Torika Watters (Winner) | Did not attend (underage) | N/A | Andhy Blake | |
| Koini Elesi Vakaloloma[a]
(Runner-Up) |
Western Division | Unplaced | Miss World Beach Beauty (Top 40) | ||
| 2004 | Aishwarya Sukhdeo | Central Division | Unplaced |
|
Miss Fiji Pageant Association
(Fiji Airways) |
Miss Fiji Universe
[edit]| Year | Delegate | Division | Placement & Performance | Directorship | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placement | Special award(s) | ||||
| 2024 | Manshika Prasad | Eastern Division | TBA | TBA | Paris Jade |
| Nadine Roberts (Did not compete) | |||||
| 1981 | Lynn Michelle McDonald | Central Division | Unplaced | Miss Fiji Pageant Association (Fiji Airways) | |
| 1979 | Tanya Whiteside | Central Division | Unplaced | Miss Fiji Pageant Association (Fiji Airways) | |
Miss Fiji Earth
[edit]| Year | Delegate | Division | Placement & Performance | Directorship | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placement | Special award(s) | ||||
| 2024 | Ashlin Alveena Prasad[12] | Western Division | TBA | TBA | Asvin Singh |
| 2023 | Sera Volavola | Central Division | Did not compete | Asvin Singh | |
| 2019 | Zaira Begg | Central Division | Unplaced |
|
Asvin Singh |
| 2015 | Shyla Angela Prasad | Central Division | Unplaced |
|
Asvin Singh |
| 2014 | Zoe McCraken | Central Division | Unplaced | Asvin Singh | |
| 2012 | Esther Cheyanne Foss | Central Division | Unplaced |
|
You and Me Talent Fiji Foundation |
| 2007 | Minal Maneesha Ali | Central Division | Unplaced | You and Me Talent Fiji Foundation | |
Miss Fiji International
[edit]| Year | Delegate | Division | Placement & Performance | Directorship | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placement | Special award(s) | ||||
| 2012 | Kesaia Kacilala | Central Division | Did not compete due to lack of sponsorship | You and Me Talent Fiji Foundation | |
| 1996 | Sharlotte R. Johenson | Central Division | Unplaced | ||
| 1995 | Rejieli Ratu | Central Division | Unplaced | ||
| 1994 | Sunita Devi | Central Division | Top 15 | ||
Miss Fiji Grand International
[edit]| Year | Delegate | Division | Placement & Performance | Directorship | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placement | Special award(s) | ||||
| 2017 | Nadine Roberts | Central Division | Unplaced | - | - |
Controversy
[edit]In 2012 Torika Watters who was 16 with European and Fijian heritage won Miss World Fiji 2012 and was not sent to the international competition due to being underage and public outrage for 'not looking Indigenous enough' with criticisms including that the Fijian representative have a "buiniga" - the local word to describe the naturally-frizzy Fijian hairstyle. Torkia was dethroned and replaced by 24 year old Koini Vakaloloma who attended the international competition.[13]
In 2024, Manshika Prasad was initially crowned Miss Universe Fiji and dethroned two days later, with the runner-up Nadine Roberts crowned as the new Miss Universe Fiji. A month long investigation ensued which alleged the licence holder of Miss Universe Fiji Lux Projects was not given a vote and correct procedures had not taken place as Grant Dwyer the contracted organiser who managed Prasad as a model prior to the pageant, had pressured the panel which included Grant's friend and judge Indian Raj Suri[14] to choose Ms Prasad because a "Fiji Indian" contestant would bring financial benefits and sponsorships from the Indian community to the manager.[15] The scandal came to an end with Miss Universe Organization reappointing Prasad as the winner following an investigation.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "The 1st Miss Hibiscus-Mrs. Liebling Marlow (nee Hoeflich)". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
- ^ "Miss Hibiscus 1957". www.fijitimes.com. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ "1962 Queen Shares Experience". Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ "Begg wins - Fiji Times Online". www.fijitimes.com. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
- ^ Miss World (2017-10-11). FIJI, Nanise RAINIMA - Contestant Introduction (Miss World 2017). Retrieved 2024-11-05 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Vucago, Alisi (2018-05-02). "Search for grand pageant representative". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ VONO, TEMALESI (2024-06-04). "Mother of all festivals set to return after a 5-year hiatus". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "You are being redirected..." www.pmoffice.gov.fj. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ fijivillage. "Nadine Roberts is Miss Universe Fiji". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ Raman, Avaneesh (2024-10-19). "Miss Earth 2024 | 18-year-old Fijian championing sustainability on the global stage". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ Miss World Fiji for International[usurped]
- ^ "Ashlin Alveena Prasad will be representing FIJI at this year's Miss Earth pageant". Instagram. 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Teen beauty queen dumped after race row". ABC News. 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ Court, Andrew (2024-09-12). "Miss Universe Fiji embroiled in corruption, conspiracy claims after winner is stripped of her crown". Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "Miss Universe Fiji 2024: The alleged plot to steal a queen's crown at tumultuous beauty pageant". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "Drama continues : Miss Universe Fiji 2024 is Manshika Prasad and will go to Miss Universe in Mexico". Fiji Village. 6 September 2024.