In 1989, the Coral Coast festival crowned Milinia Vasutoga, a devoted bank officer from Sigatoka, as Miss Coral Coast. The Fiji Times reported on October 7, 1989, that this event, held every four years, was comparable to the Hibiscus festival.
However, the festival did not meet its fundraising expectations, raising only $15,908.49, a significant drop from previous years. Emori Tudia, the festival’s organizing committee chairman, voiced his disappointment over the insufficient support from local businesses in the Coral Coast area. He stated, “The festival needs more backing from local businesses. Sigatoka is a central hub for tourism, and with better organization and increased sponsorship, next year’s event could become the most prominent festival in the country.”
Despite the fundraising challenges, the festival featured an energetic atmosphere, including a float procession through Sigatoka that attracted over 800 attendees. Milinia Vasutoga, who worked as a bank teller at the Westpac branch in Sigatoka, received a trip to Sydney from Ram Travel and Tours as part of her prize. She expressed her happiness at winning the title and her eagerness to represent Fiji positively.
Alongside Vasutoga, other titleholders included Miss Charity, Sharon Chong Sue. Vasutoga told The Fiji Times that she looked forward to participating in larger festivals in the future, aspiring to build on her success. She remarked, “At the beginning of the week, I never expected to win, but by the end of the week, I had more confidence and felt very calm during the judging sessions. I wanted the crown and I got it.”
Mr. Tudia emphasized the need to rethink the festival’s organizational strategy, suggesting that focusing on attracting tourists could lead to additional sponsorships and a more successful event. Notably, the 1989 festival marked the first time civil servants and local personalities organized the event, rather than charity organizations.