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Revision as of 19:49, 16 November 2024

Miss Fiji
Formation1956
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersSuva
Location
Membership
Official language
National Directors
  • Hirdesh Prasad
  • (Miss Hibiscus Festival)
  • Paris Jade
  • (Miss Universe Fiji)
  • Asvin Singh
  • (Miss Earth Fiji)

Miss Fiji is a national Beauty pageant in Fiji.

History

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

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

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

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

Year Delegate Division Placement & Performance Directorship
Placement Special award(s)
2024 Manshika Prasad Eastern Division TBA TBA Paris Jade
Nadine Roberts (Did not compete)
Did not compete between 1982 - 2023
1981 Lynn Michelle McDonald Central Division Unplaced Miss Fiji Pageant Association (Fiji Airways)
Did not compete in 1980
1979 Tanya Whiteside Central Division Unplaced Miss Fiji Pageant Association (Fiji Airways)

Miss Fiji Earth

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
  • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Miss Friendship (Air)
  • 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Talent (Air)
Asvin Singh
2015 Shyla Angela Prasad Central Division Unplaced
  • 1st place, gold medalist(s) Most Cheerful
Asvin Singh
2014 Zoe McCraken Central Division Unplaced Asvin Singh
2012 Esther Cheyanne Foss Central Division Unplaced
  • 1st place, gold medalist(s) I Love My Planet School Campaign
You and Me Talent Fiji Foundation
2007 Minal Maneesha Ali Central Division Unplaced You and Me Talent Fiji Foundation

Miss Fiji International

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

Year Delegate Division Placement & Performance Directorship
Placement Special award(s)
No representatives between 2018 - present
2017 Nadine Roberts Central Division Unplaced - -

Controversy

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

  1. ^ "The 1st Miss Hibiscus-Mrs. Liebling Marlow (nee Hoeflich)". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
  2. ^ "Miss Hibiscus 1957". www.fijitimes.com. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  3. ^ "1962 Queen Shares Experience". Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Begg wins - Fiji Times Online". www.fijitimes.com. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
  5. ^ Miss World (2017-10-11). FIJI, Nanise RAINIMA - Contestant Introduction (Miss World 2017). Retrieved 2024-11-05 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ a b Vucago, Alisi (2018-05-02). "Search for grand pageant representative". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  7. ^ VONO, TEMALESI (2024-06-04). "Mother of all festivals set to return after a 5-year hiatus". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  8. ^ "You are being redirected..." www.pmoffice.gov.fj. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  9. ^ fijivillage. "Nadine Roberts is Miss Universe Fiji". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Miss World Fiji for International[usurped]
  12. ^ "Ashlin Alveena Prasad will be representing FIJI at this year's Miss Earth pageant". Instagram. 30 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Teen beauty queen dumped after race row". ABC News. 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  14. ^ Court, Andrew (2024-09-12). "Miss Universe Fiji embroiled in corruption, conspiracy claims after winner is stripped of her crown". Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  15. ^ "Miss Universe Fiji 2024: The alleged plot to steal a queen's crown at tumultuous beauty pageant". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  16. ^ "Drama continues : Miss Universe Fiji 2024 is Manshika Prasad and will go to Miss Universe in Mexico". Fiji Village. 6 September 2024.