Vika Vataniyaragi Tadu Varuru, a 25-year-old dietitian at Labasa Health Centre, is competing for the Miss Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North title with the ambition of enhancing food security in Fiji. Sponsored by Northern Civil Service, she is one of nine contestants participating in this week’s festival at Subrail Park in Labasa.
Originating from Nasinu Village, Navatu, Cakaudrove, Miss Varuru also has maternal ties to Yavea in Vanuabalavu, Lau. She expressed that while she regularly speaks to schools and communities about health awareness, addressing a larger audience on stage will be a unique experience.
Her campaign focuses on promoting food security, which she believes is a pressing issue in Fiji, particularly in the Northern region. Miss Varuru noted, “Many people struggle with access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food due to various factors such as financial constraints, lack of resources, market price fluctuations, and climate change impacts on agriculture. This reliance on imported foods often leads individuals to prioritize quantity over quality.”
To combat food insecurity, she advocates for sustainable agricultural practices, encouraging families to start backyard gardens and prioritize locally grown produce. Miss Varuru has a twin sister and a younger brother. Her mother is a kindergarten teacher at Wairiki Kindergarten in Labasa, and her father is employed at the Water Authority of Fiji.