Vika Vataniyaragi Tadu Varuru, a 25-year-old contestant, is vying for the Miss Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North title, with the goal of promoting food security in Fiji for a sustainable future. Sponsored by Northern Civil Service, she is one of nine participants competing at Subrail Park in Labasa this week.
Originally from Nasinu Village in Cakaudrove, and with maternal roots in Yavea, Vanuabalavu in Lau, Varuru is a dietitian at the Labasa Health Centre. She expressed eagerness to share her message with a wider audience, stating that while she conducts health talks and awareness programs in schools and communities, addressing thousands at the festival will be a unique opportunity.
Varuru aims to raise awareness about food insecurity, highlighting that many people in Fiji, especially in the Northern region, lack access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food due to various factors such as financial constraints, resource scarcity, fluctuating market prices, climate change impacts on agriculture, and reliance on imported foods. She stresses the importance of prioritizing quality over quantity in food choices.
“To achieve food security, we must practice sustainable agriculture. This begins at home with backyard gardens and opting for locally produced food,” she emphasized.
In addition to her advocacy, Varuru has a twin sister and a younger brother. Her mother teaches at Wairiki Kindergarten in Labasa, while her father is employed at the Water Authority of Fiji.