Vinaina Tabua Marawa, a resident of Nasole HART, expressed her delight after being named Miss Nasinu during the 2024 Vodafone and Gavya Nasinu Festival on Saturday. She took the opportunity to highlight the pressing issue of domestic violence impacting homes and communities.
Competing among seven contestants, Ms. Marawa noted that the festival had not taken place in four years. She emphasized that addressing domestic violence is crucial, as it affects a significant number of women and children in the local communities.
“Winning the Miss Nasinu crown is a pivotal step toward my goal of being an agent of change,” Ms. Marawa shared. She acknowledged the competition’s intensity and expressed gratitude toward her mother for her constant support throughout the event.
The festival, she said, successfully united the Nasinu community with the aim of overcoming obstacles together. Ms. Marawa has a background in pageantry, having participated in the Miss Hibiscus Festival’s teen category at age 16.
Describing the festival as a meaningful platform for service, she stated, “This week-long event focused on advocacy and fostering change at the national level, and I am eager to use my voice for this cause.”
Ms. Marawa believes that meaningful change starts at home. Reflecting on her upbringing as the eldest of eight children raised by a single mother, she recognized the considerable responsibilities she had to shoulder. Although balancing her household tasks with her studies was difficult, she credited her mother’s steadfast encouragement as the driving force behind her achievements.