Sala Toganivalu, a 22-year-old schoolteacher, was named Miss Hibiscus 1991 in an event filled with mixed emotions. In an interview with a local publication, she described her win as both “uplifting” and a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience, yet the absence of her recently deceased grandfather loomed over the occasion.
Ms. Toganivalu was profoundly impacted by her grandfather’s passing, which occurred just a week prior to the event. She shared her sadness, noting, “I’m sad that my grandfather, who I was close to, was not alive to see me crowned.” She learned of his death just 15 minutes before her arrival at the event.
Despite her grief, her family motivated her to participate in the remaining scheduled activities for the contestants. “My family gave me the courage to carry on and win despite feeling really down because of my grandfather,” she stated.
Initially, she had missed various pre-carnival events, including a cocktail gathering and agricultural and baby shows, but her family encouraged her to attend the Rotary luncheon and other engagements. Although winning wasn’t her primary focus, their support helped her prepare and deliver a heartfelt victory speech.
In her speech, Ms. Toganivalu expressed her appreciation, saying, “I am delighted to be standing before you as this year’s queen. I would like to thank the staff at the Fiji Trade and Investment Board, my mother and sisters, and everyone at home. I also want to thank the people of Suva for turning up — without them, there would be no carnival. I have found many good friends among my fellow contestants.”
The 1991 Hibiscus Carnival was notably successful, raising a record $122,284.04 for charity, with Miss Charity, Ulamila Raikadroka, contributing $44,000 to this amount. After a week of poor weather, the final day witnessed an impressive turnout, with 20,000 attendees enjoying the festivities.
The day after her crowning, Ms. Toganivalu spent time with her family at her uncle’s home in Tamavua, alongside FTIB staff and local artists.