Sala Toganivalu, a 22-year-old schoolteacher, was celebrated as Miss Hibiscus 1991, a moment that brought both happiness and grief. In an interview with The Fiji Times, Toganivalu described her victory as a “uplifting” and “once-in-a-lifetime” experience, overshadowed by the recent passing of her grandfather.
Toganivalu was greatly saddened by her grandfather’s death just a week prior to the event. She shared, “I’m sad that my grandfather, who I was close to, was not alive to see me crowned.” Just 15 minutes before her arrival at the event, her mother had informed her of the news.
Though experiencing deep sorrow, Toganivalu’s family encouraged her to fulfill her obligations for the festival. “My family gave me the courage to carry on and win despite feeling really down because of my grandfather,” she said. Although she initially skipped several pre-carnival events, she was persuaded by her family to attend the Rotary luncheon and other important gatherings.
Initially, Toganivalu did not focus on winning but found strength from her family’s support, leading her to prepare an authentic and confident victory speech. She expressed her appreciation in her speech, stating, “I am delighted to be standing before you as this year’s queen. I would like to thank the staff at the Fiji Trade and Investment Board, my mother and sisters, and everyone at home. I also want to thank the people of Suva for turning up — without them, there would be no carnival. I have found many good friends among my fellow contestants.”
The 1991 Hibiscus Carnival was notably successful, raising an impressive $122,284.04 for charity. Miss Charity, Ulamila Raikadroka, who represented Miss NBF, contributed $44,000 to this total. After a week of rain, the final day of the carnival saw an enthusiastic crowd of 20,000 people enjoying the festivities along the streets and foreshore grounds.
The day following her crowning, Toganivalu spent time with family and local artists at her uncle’s home in Tamavua.