Vinaina Tabua Marawa, a resident of Nasole HART, expressed her excitement after being crowned Miss Nasinu at the conclusion of the 2024 Vodafone and Gavya Nasinu Festival on Saturday. During the event, she spoke about the pressing issue of domestic violence affecting homes and communities.
Ms. Marawa was one of seven participants in the competition, which was the first Nasinu Festival to take place in four years. She highlighted the urgent need to address domestic violence, noting the distressing number of women and children impacted in local communities.
“Winning the Miss Nasinu title is a significant step towards my goal of becoming an agent for change,” Ms. Marawa remarked. She acknowledged the challenges posed by the competition and expressed her gratitude to her mother for her steadfast support throughout the journey.
The festival served as a unifying event for the Nasinu community, fostering connections and breaking down barriers. Ms. Marawa previously participated in the Miss Hibiscus Festival’s teen category at the age of 16, viewing such events as valuable platforms for serving with dignity and respect.
“The week-long festival was centered on advocacy and promoting change at the national level. I am enthusiastic about leveraging my voice for this cause,” she stated. Ms. Marawa emphasized that meaningful change starts at home, sharing her experiences as the eldest of eight siblings raised by a single mother, which came with significant responsibilities.
She reflected on the challenges of juggling household tasks with her studies but credited her mother’s unwavering support as a pivotal factor that made her journey fulfilling.