Asia Pacific Pageant: Gaunavinaka campaigns to end discrimination

ALISI VUCAGO Thursday, September 14, 2017

Miss Asia Pacific pageant finalist Atelaite Gaunavinaka. Picture: SUPPLIED

Update: 10:02PM FIJI Pageant: HER love for pageants developed when she participated at the Nasinu Carnival earlier this year.

Now, Atelaite Gaunavinaka is one of the six finalists for the Miss Asia Pacific Pageant who hopes to end discrimination against women.

The 21-year-old from Fulaga, Lau said it had been challenging trying to balance her studies and preparations for the pageant.

But she is banking on her experience and exposure from the pageant to keep her motivated.

"I hope to gain some valuable experience and knowledge from this pageant and my motivation for this pageant was from the confidence I built from participating at the Nasinu Carnival this year," Miss Gaunavinaka said.

"Many of us have experienced discrimination and stopping discrimination is not always easy. With this knowledge, some of us choose not to address the issue, but rather we sometimes choose to go around it and accept our fate.

"I would use this platform to reach out and encourage members of the public that it isn't right to discriminate, so be yourself and know that you are special, strong and beautiful just the way you are."

She said her mother was her biggest inspiration who endlessly supported her and pushed her to reach her full potential.

The crowning night to determine who will represent Fiji to the Miss Asia Pacific International will take place on September 29 at the Tanoa Plaza Hotel in Suva.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=416405