Vinaina Tabua Marawa, a resident of HART, expressed her delight after being crowned Miss Nasinu at the 2024 Vodafone and Gavya Nasinu Festival on Saturday. She highlighted the critical issue of domestic violence affecting homes and communities.
As one of seven contestants, Ms. Marawa noted that the last Nasinu Festival took place four years ago. She emphasized the urgent need to address domestic violence due to the alarming number of women and children impacted within local communities.
“Winning the Miss Nasinu title is a significant step toward my goal of being an agent for change,” Ms. Marawa stated. She acknowledged the competitiveness of the event and expressed gratitude to her mother for her constant support throughout the competition.
According to her, the festival successfully united the Nasinu community, fostering hopes of overcoming social barriers. At 16, she had previously participated in the teen category of the Miss Hibiscus Festival. She views her involvement in events like the Nasinu Festival as a valuable opportunity to serve with dignity and respect.
“The week-long festival focused on advocacy and promoting change at a national level, and I am eager to use my voice for this important cause,” she remarked. Ms. Marawa believes that initiating change starts at home. As the oldest of eight siblings raised by a single mother, she reflected on the significant responsibilities she had to shoulder.
She admitted that balancing household responsibilities with her studies was challenging, but her mother’s steadfast support made the journey worthwhile.