TWENTY-four year-old Merewalesi Nailatikau hopes to be an advocate for developmental issues in Pacific island countries.
This year's Miss Hibiscus, a personal assistant at the Trade Mission of Republic of China-Taiwan, is Fiji's contestant in the South Pacific Pageant next month.
She is a graduate of the University of the South Pacific in Bachelor of Arts in psychology and management and public administration, and is pursuing a postgraduate diploma in development studies.
"My long-term career goals lie in research and communications on development issues. I hope to play a role in advocating for important issues that affect our region's development," Ms Nailatikau said.
"There is so much going on that deserves our peoples' attention and it is important to be informed on issues that affect our future so that we as Pacific Islanders can work together to find and implement solutions in areas such as education, health, women's rights, environmental conservation and good governance."
Her hobbies include reading, listening to music, going to the gym, participating in community work, creative writing, travelling, meeting new people and spending quality time with friends and family.
She comes from a large family and is grateful to have many siblings and cousins whom she can rely on for friendship, advice and support.