Vinaina Tabua Marawa, a resident of Nasole HART, expressed her delight after winning the title of Miss Nasinu during the 2024 Vodafone and Gavya Nasinu Festival on Saturday.
Marawa highlighted the pressing issue of domestic violence impacting homes and communities. She was among seven contestants competing for the title, marking the festival’s first occurrence in four years.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Marawa emphasized the importance of addressing domestic violence, citing the widespread suffering of women and children in local communities. “Winning the Miss Nasinu title is a crucial stepping stone towards my goal of being an agent for change,” she stated. She acknowledged the challenging competition but expressed gratitude to her mother for her support throughout the event.
The festival served as a gathering for the Nasinu community, with a focus on breaking down barriers. Marawa has previous experience in beauty pageants, having participated in the Miss Hibiscus Festival’s teen category at the age of 16. She views events like the Nasinu Festival as valuable opportunities to serve the community with dignity and respect.
She noted that the week-long festival was centered on advocacy and promoting change at the national level, and she is eager to use her voice for this important cause. Marawa believes that fostering change starts at home, drawing from her own upbringing as the eldest of eight children in a single-parent household. Despite the challenges of balancing household responsibilities with her education, she credited her mother’s steadfast support as a source of motivation throughout her journey.