Vika Vataniyaragi Tadu Varuru, a 25-year-old from Nasinu Village in Cakaudrove, is determined to win the Miss Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North title to promote food security in Fiji for a sustainable future. Sponsored by Northern Civil Service, she is one of nine contestants competing at this week’s festival in Subrail Park, Labasa.
As a dietitian at the Labasa Health Centre, Miss Varuru has been actively engaging with schools and communities to raise awareness about health. However, she views the opportunity to speak on stage to a large audience as a new and exciting challenge.
Her campaign focuses on food security, a pressing issue in Fiji, particularly in the northern regions, where many people struggle to access safe, nutritious, and sufficient food. She highlights the various factors contributing to this issue, including economic disparities, limited resources, fluctuating market prices, and the impacts of climate change on agriculture. As a result, people tend to prioritize quantity over quality in their food choices.
To combat food insecurity, Miss Varuru emphasizes the importance of sustainable agriculture practices, encouraging individuals to cultivate their own gardens at home and prioritize locally produced food.
She has a twin sister and a younger brother, and her family background includes her mother working as a teacher at Wairiki Kindergarten in Labasa, while her father is employed at the Water Authority of Fiji.