It has been well over a week since we’ve witnessed the return of the mother of all festivals, Miss Hibiscus 2024. This year was exceptionally exciting for viewers and competitors seeing as there was a lot of major changes made the pageant in particular.
This year, Miss Tents and Awnings Melania Tora was crowned the Miss Hibiscus Queen. Following in 1st runner up was Miss Island Accommodation Martina Sigrah and Miss Fiji Fashion Week Pepe Malani as 2nd runner up.
After the conclusion of the pageant, the young ladies had highlighted the experience as a building point and the catalyst of the sisterhood and friendship forged from there on out. They had individually mentioned that the festival brought them closer as a unit.
When asked to describe the friendship/sisterhood dynamic of the group, Miss Sigatoka River Safari eagerly answered “We have each other’s back, we support each other, we have fun together and we always pray together at the end or the beginning of the day. They’re my sisters from another mother, a bond I wouldn’t change for the world.”
The contestants and the Queen herself, Melania Tora, recently took a trip to Sigatoka where they met with Miss Sigatoka River Safari Siter Qalibau, who had treated the ladies to a “Nadroga experience”. The plan, initially brought up by Miss Qalibau, had been in the making since the last time the group were together at the festival. This excursion included Miss Moutai Ciara Lee, Miss Ministry of Health Shyla Prasad along with Miss Hefrani Semantafa Samisoni and Miss Island Accomodation Martina Sigrah.
Guided by the ever so elegant, Miss Qalibau, who is employed at Sigatoka River Safari, they started the tour with a boat ride up the Sigatoka River to the nearby village, Koroua. Upon arrival, they were greeted with a kava ceremony.
Thereafter, they each introduced themselves to the villagers and continued with the tour. The fun-loving ladies went on a thrill ride back to their starting point. Once they had reached, they decided to take a dive into the water which was the perfect ending to the tour.
In an effort to maintain their strong bond, the ladies have planned more future gatherings but haven’t confirmed anything just yet due to their conflicting schedules.
“It was so good to see them again. They weren’t just Queens to me, they were [are] my sisters now” said Siteri Qalibau after being asked about the Queens’ visit to her place of work.
These young ladies are setting a prime example of for the next set of Queen contestants to compete and are a moral compass for female friendships. Emphasizing on the importance of being a sister’s keeper and promoting the infamous notion of GIRL POWER.
