Seven contestants are set to vie for the 2024 Miss Nasinu Carnival crown in the upcoming weeks. Among the participants is Vinaina Marawa, who is dedicated to raising awareness about the issue of domestic violence within homes and communities.
Ms. Marawa aims to utilize the week-long carnival as a platform to address this critical issue. Fiji is reported to have disturbingly high rates of violence against women, with recent statistics indicating that two-thirds of women in Fiji experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some point in their lives. Furthermore, 60 percent of women confront difficult situations at home due to lack of support and abuse.
Representing the Nasinu Town Council, Ms. Marawa has experience in beauty pageants, having participated in the Teen category during the Hibiscus Festival when she was just 18. She perceives her involvement in events like the Nasinu Carnival as an opportunity to serve her community with dignity and respect, emphasizing that her participation is not about glamour but about meaningful representation.
“My focus during this one-week carnival will be on advocacy and promoting change on a national level, and I am eager to use my voice for this cause,” Ms. Marawa stated. She believes that the journey for change must begin at home.
Reflecting on her own upbringing as the eldest of eight siblings raised by a single mother, she recognizes the substantial responsibilities she had. Balancing household chores with her education was demanding, but her mother’s unwavering support fueled her determination. At this year’s Nasinu Carnival, the young woman from Kadavu intends to leverage the platform to advocate for positive change.