Rhyelle Aisea, Miss Hibiscus

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Sevusevu to Tui Suva, Miss Suva to welcome contestants

Suva welcomes Miss Fiji contestants as pageant week begins. Miss Suva Rhyelle Aisea shares key events and her youth, culture and leadership platform.

Suva is officially in pageant week mode.

As the eight municipal queens arrive in the capital for the 2025 Miss Fiji Pageant, I’m looking forward to welcoming each contestant, her chaperone, and support team with the warmth Suva is known for—because this week is about more than a crown. It’s about sisterhood, service, and the values that keep us grounded as Fijians.

Ahead of the week, my family and I believed it was important to first acknowledge the vanua o Suva. My father, Michael Aisea, and my mother, Zinny Aisea, led us alongside the city leaders of Suva. We conducted a sevusevu to the traditional landowners at Suvavou. This was to respectfully recognise the vanua o Suva as the traditional landowners of the city.

We humbly sought permission and blessings as I carry Suva’s name into the Miss Fiji Pageant. This was important for my role representing the capital. We are deeply grateful for the enduring goodwill of the landowners. They provide the land on which we live, work, and access the many opportunities that allow our communities and our city to thrive. It means a lot to me to stand before Fiji with the strength, goodwill, and support of the Tui Suva and the people of Suvavou.

For me, this is the Fiji way: to acknowledge the vanua and to acknowledge God in everything we do, so that our work is guided by respect, humility, and love.

And So We Are Starting the week with faith, gratitude, and community

We’ll begin with a Service of Welcome and Thanksgiving at my home church, Churchward Chapel, led by Fekau Geraldine Varea and Fekau Rocky Tigarea.

Service details

After the service, we’ll share a relaxed brunch. It is hosted by Churchward Chapel, my family, and the Suva City Council. This is a simple but meaningful way to start the week in the spirit of togetherness.

Later in the afternoon, contestants will check in to Island Accommodation. Then, they will gather for a beautiful High Tea at the Fiji Museum. This graceful moment sets the tone for the activities and events leading into the national competition.

My message to my fellow contestants

This week is a celebration of talent, purpose, and the kind of leadership our communities need. For me, it’s also a reminder that lotu is still a strong pillar in Fiji. It brings people together through reflection, unity, and service.

My advocacy centres on youth development, deeply rooted in the values we grew up with:

A scripture that continues to guide me is 1 Corinthians 16:14: “Let all that you do be done with love.” As pageant week begins, that’s my hope. Every performance, conversation, and moment behind the scenes should reflect love. This love is for each other, our communities, and Fiji.

Why youth is at the centre of my platform

Because I’m only 20, I don’t pretend to have all the answers. But I do know what I want to stand for.

First, I believe youth development in Fiji must start with culture and tradition. Our Pacific cultures give us grounding, mana, and traditional knowledge. And many experts say that this knowledge holds answers for some of the biggest issues we face—especially climate change. When our identity is strong, our decisions become stronger too.

Second, I want to see our leaders use a real intergenerational approach when they create policies. We should be included in the conversation from the start. This ensures youth input is meaningful. The policies written today are shaping the Fiji we’ll inherit.

Lastly, I hope my participation—my actions, my words, and my behavior—can encourage young people to push through discomfort and difficulty and still reach for opportunities. I’ve learned that sometimes the rewards are on the other side of the hard moments. And even when it feels uncomfortable, it’s often in pushing through the challenge that you discover what you’re capable of.

That’s the heart of what I’m carrying into this week: culture as our compass, real youth inclusion, and the courage to keep going.

What’s happening this week: Miss Fiji Pageant schedule

Here’s what the official competition week looks like:

Tickets for all public events are available via TicketMax: www.ticketmax.com.fj

To every contestant: welcome to Suva

To my sisters from across Fiji—welcome. I hope Suva feels like home this week, and that you feel celebrated for the hard work, courage, and heart you’ve brought to this journey.

Wishing every contestant a week filled with meaning, confidence, and unforgettable memories.

— Rhyelle Aisea, Miss Suva 2025

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