Seven contestants are set to compete for the 2024 Miss Nasinu Carnival crown in the upcoming fortnight. Among them is Vinaina Marawa, who aims to promote the fight against domestic violence within homes and communities.
Ms. Marawa is dedicated to utilizing the week-long carnival to address this critical issue. Fiji struggles with alarmingly high rates of violence against women, with statistics indicating that two-thirds of women in the country have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some point in their lives. Furthermore, 60 percent of women encounter distressing situations at home, often due to a lack of support and abuse.
Representing the Nasinu Town Council, Ms. Marawa is not new to beauty pageants. At just 18 years old, she participated in the Hibiscus Festival Teen category. She sees events like the Nasinu Carnival as opportunities to serve her community with dignity and respect. “It’s not about the clothes or looks, it’s about representing our community,” Ms. Marawa stated. She plans to focus on advocacy and fostering change at the national level throughout this carnival week, eager to use her voice for this important cause.
Ms. Marawa believes that the path to change starts at home. As the eldest of eight siblings raised by a single mother, she reflects on the considerable responsibilities she had to shoulder. Although balancing household duties with her studies was challenging, her mother’s steadfast support made the journey rewarding.
At this year’s Nasinu Carnival, the young woman from Kadavu intends to take advantage of the platform to advocate for significant change.