Miss Fiji
| Formation | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Type | Beauty pageant |
| Headquarters | Suva |
| Location | |
Official language |
Miss Fiji is a national Beauty pageant in Fiji. The competition was established in 2015 to bring together winners of municipal pageants from across the country, with the winner representing Fiji at the Miss Pacific Islands pageant.[1]
History
[edit]Fiji's modern pageant history includes the Hibiscus Festival, first held in Suva in 1956. Liebling Marlow, then known as Liebling Hoeflich, won the inaugural Miss Hibiscus competition.[2]
The present national Miss Fiji Pageant was established in 2015 and was created to bring together winners of municipal pageants from across Fiji. The first competition was held in Nadi in October 205 and included representatives from two cities and eight towns.[1]
National pageant
[edit]Before the national competition was introduced, Miss Hibiscus titleholders represented Fiji at the regional Miss South Pacific pageant.[1] Merewalesi Nailatikau won the regional title in 2009, followed by Alisi Rabukawaqa in 2011.[3][4] In 2016, Anne Christine Dunn won Miss Hibiscus and Miss Fiji before winning the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant later that year.[5][6]
When the national pageant returned in 2025, Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa announced that members of the Fijian diaspora in Australia, New Zealand and the United States would also be eligible to compete.[7]
In 2026, Miss Fiji 2025 first runner-up Ailava Samuels was selected to represent Fiji at the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant after titleholder Peggy Ravusiro declined to enter into a participation contract with the Miss Fiji Secretariat.[8] Samuels went on to win the 2026 Miss Pacific Islands title.[9]
Titleholders
[edit]Miss Hibiscus titleholders
[edit]The Hibiscus Festival has crowned a Miss Hibiscus titleholder since its inaugural competition in 1956.[10]
| Year | Miss Hibiscus | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Liebling Marlow | [10] |
| 1957 | Filimaina Koto | |
| 1958 | Mary Joan Ah Koy | |
| 1959 | Robin Ann Riemenschneider | |
| 1960 | Emma Whitcombe | |
| 1961 | Laurayne Thurley | |
| 1962 | Eta Uluvula Qereqeretabua | |
| 1963 | Ruci Koroi | |
| 1964 | Patricia Pickering | |
| 1965 | Veronica Powell | |
| 1966 | Lois Gibson | |
| 1967 | Annette Lepper | |
| 1968 | Helen Reiher | |
| 1969 | Laurie Crowe | |
| 1970 | Adi Talatoka Lalabalavu | |
| 1971 | Verna Thomas | |
| 1972 | Esther Quai-Hoi | |
| 1973 | Florence Fenton | |
| 1974 | Sandra Hazelman | |
| 1975 | Michele Smith | |
| 1976 | Josephine Sau | |
| 1977 | Florence Julian | |
| 1978 | Tanya Whiteside | [11] |
| 1979 | Margaret Singh | |
| 1980 | Lynn McDonald | [12] |
| 1981 | Loretta Ragg | |
| 1982 | Lorna Christofferson | |
| 1983 | Annie Reymond | |
| 1984 | Tamsy Melanie Simpson | [13] |
| 1985 | Ulamila Kaisau | [12] |
| 1988 | Lenora Qereqeretabua | [14] |
| 1989 | Natalie Grey | |
| 1990 | Litia Dewa | |
| 1991 | Sala Toganivalu | |
| 1992 | Ilisapeci Kubuabola | |
| 1994 | Miranda Foon | |
| 1995 | Jacqueline Mavoa | |
| 1996 | Lynda Tabuya | |
| 1997 | Letila Mitchell | |
| 1998 | Ranadi Johnston | |
| 1999 | Joanne Terubea | |
| 2002 | Shital Ram | |
| 2006 | Lusia Delai | |
| 2007 | Ann Patricia Naisara | |
| 2008 | Filomena Tuivanualevu | |
| 2009 | Merewalesi Nailatikau | |
| 2010 | Sera Tikotikoivatu | |
| 2011 | Alisi Rabukawaqa | |
| 2012 | Drue Slatter | [15] |
| 2013 | Priscilla Reddy | [14] |
| 2014 | Nanise Rainima | |
| 2015 | Marie Fall | |
| 2016 | Anne Dunn | |
| 2017 | Candace Veramu | |
| 2018 | Jessica Fong | |
| 2019–2023 | No festival held | [16] |
| 2024 | Melania Tora | [14] |
| 2025 | Rhyelle Aisea | |
| 2026 | Sala Korosaya | [17] |
National Miss Fiji titleholders
[edit]| Year | Winner | Municipal title | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Zaira Begg | Miss Ba | [18] |
| 2016 | Anne Dunn | Miss Suva | [6] |
| 2017 | Hally Qaqa | Miss Nasinu | [19] |
| 2019 | Jessica Fong | Miss Suva | [20] |
| 2025 | Peggy Ravusiro | Miss Labasa | [21] |
International representation
[edit]Miss Pacific Islands
[edit]| Year | Representative | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Merewalesi Nailatikau | Winner | [22] |
| 2011 | Alisi Rabukawaqa | Winner | |
| 2016 | Anne Dunn | Winner | [6] |
| 2026 | Ailava Samuels | Winner | [9] |
Other international pageants
[edit]Miss Hibiscus titleholders Tanya Whiteside and Lynn McDonald represented Fiji at the Miss Universe pageant in 1979 and 1981, respectively.[23][24] Miss Hibiscus 2014 title holder Nanise Rainima represented Fiji at Miss World 2017, where she placed second in the talent competition and reached the top 20 of Beauty with a Purpose.[25][26] Miss Fiji 2015 titleholder Zaira Begg represented Fiji at Miss Earth 2019 and received a silver medal in the Miss Congeniality (Air Group) Category.[27]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 AAP (2015-10-11). "Miss Fiji pageant launched". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Wise, Jake (2024-08-22). "Back in history | Suva's inaugural event". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Kabe Talis, Chrissilla (29 November 2009). "South Pacific Queen goes to Miss Fiji". The National. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ "Fiji Wins Miss South Pacific 2011 - Solomon Times Online". SolomonTimes.com. Archived from the original on 2025-12-12. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ "Dunn deal". The Fiji Times. 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- 1 2 3 Turaga, Semi (3 December 2016). "Miss Fiji Anne Dunn crowned 2016 Miss Pacific Islands". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Kumar, Nikhil Aiyush (13 October 2025). "Miss Fiji makes a comeback after eight years". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Nand, Priya (22 January 2026). "Ailava Samuels to represent Fiji in Miss Pacific Pageant". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- 1 2 Narayan, Vijay (15 February 2026). "Miss Fiji Ailava Samuels is Miss Pacific Islands". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- 1 2 "70th Hibiscus Festival | Mother of All Festivals". hibiscusfestival.com.fj. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ "Miss Hibiscus Festival Beauty Queens 1970's | FJ". 2026-03-10. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- 1 2 "Miss Hibiscus Festival Beauty Queens 1980's | FJ". 2026-03-22. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ FijiTimes (2014-01-13). "Good old days". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- 1 2 3 "70th Hibiscus Festival | Mother of All Festivals". hibiscusfestival.com.fj. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Kate, Talebula (2016-05-29). "The beginning of Hibiscus Festival". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ VONO, TEMALESI (2024-06-04). "Mother of all festivals set to return after a 5-year hiatus". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Rabonu, Inoke (2026-09-05). "Korosaya crowned Miss Hibiscus 2026". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ "Miss Fiji 2015". The Fiji Times. 2015-10-26. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Movono, Lice (2017-10-28). "Qaqa wins Fiji title". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Rawalai, Luke (2019-11-15). "Fong crowned Miss Fiji 2019". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Ledua, Fane (2025-12-15). "Ravusiro wins hearts and crown". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ "Miss Fiji named Miss South Pacific". RNZ. 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ "1979 Archives". Miss Universe. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Nasokia, Waisea (2024-07-29). "Miss Universe Fiji Invites Pageants". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ "Fiji 2017". Miss World. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- ↑ Naleba, Mere (2017-11-19). "Miss World Fiji does well". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Kean, Percy, ed. (2019-10-25). "Begg Scoops Silver Medal for Miss Congeniality". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
