Who is it going to be?
Who gets to walk away this evening with the Miss Hibiscus Queen crown for 2018?
Who will become the face of an event that started in 1956?
From its very early beginnings run over just one day, the event was extended to three days the very next year and moved on to become a week-long affair.
From the very first Miss Hibiscus Liebling Marlow, queens over the years have enjoyed the spotlight around this time of the year, and attracted attention around the country.
Today is a very special day for contestants vying for the crown.
There will be mixed emotions beginning from the moment they get up this morning. Like many big moments in our lives, the feelings are more-or-less the same.
There is excitement, a touch of trepidation for some, and great anticipation.
There are a lot of expectations on the part of their families, friends, and their fans.
For some of the queens, it becomes an exciting part of the event, pumping up the adrenalin and definitely leaving an indelible impression on their minds.
Doubt will creep in for some, and the feeling that comes with not knowing what’s before you can be overwhelming sometimes.
That is to be expected though given the level of expectation that hangs over the event, and the huge publicity and media coverage it attracts annually.
Leave aside any negative publicity that may have crept in over the course of this fun-filled week, attention will be on the queens tonight.
There has to be a sense of accomplishment though as the young women prepare for the final day of what has been a hectic week of engagements in the Capital City.
Today they will wrap up what has been an exciting part of their young lives.
Tonight, each of the queens and the king contestants must find the courage to accept the final result at the crowning on the main stage at Valelevu in Nasinu.
For those who will not win, it takes courage and a great effort to remain composed and leave the stage with grace.
Events like the Hibiscus Festival are important for Fiji for they bring people from all walks of life together.
They offer an opportunity to see true multiracialism at work.
We live in a country brimming with people of different religious beliefs, traditions and cultures, yet we all share something in common when it’s Hibiscus time.
For one week every year, imaginary divides are cast aside for the sake of shared joy, fun, excitement and unity.
The live telecasts around the country ensure it is an event that has become a national affair beamed to thousands of homes daily.
Hibiscus contestants from the young princess and prince contestants to the teens, queens and kings are all ambassadors of our beautiful country.
As we look forward with anticipation to the crowning tonight, perhaps we should remind ourselves of one important reason such festivals are organised.
The Hibiscus Festival charity chest has long supported charitable causes in the city.
It needs the support of the masses.
If you are headed for the Hibiscus Festival today, we hope you will enjoy this final day, and take home some happy memories.
We wish all the contestants the very best tonight.
This is your moment.
