Zaira Zureen Begg, 21, was crowned Vodafone Ba Riverside Queen last Saturday at the Ba Market grounds.

“I was surprised when they called out my name and I only wish my father was here to share that joy with me,” she said.

She said her mother Gina Moses had taken care of her and her two siblings since her father passed away.

“I’m the youngest and I have to say my mum basically encouraged me to give it a try, she’s always been there for me,” she said.

Ms Begg is a sales representative of Khelvin Realtors Limited of Lautoka and is engaged in voluntary work with Red Cross Fiji and the Aspire Network.

She said the programmes for the Vodafone Ba Riverside Carnival was a bit different to what she experienced in the Vodafone Hibiscus Festival last year.

“This was a good learning experience for me because I was among the people I knew,” she said.

“Being part of the Hibiscus last year had taught me a lot and boosted my confidence so I decided that it would be great to share that with the contestants here and help in any way I can.”

She said the next step for her would be to gear up for the upcoming Miss World Fiji Pageant.

She is sponsored by Ba Motor Parts.

CARNIVAL WINNERS:

• 2015 Miss Vodafone Ba Riverside: Zaira Zureen Begg
• First runner-up: Miss Ba Town Council Lusiana Kaisau Baleirewa
• Second runner-up: Miss RC Manubhai Shivani Kumar
• Miss Charity: Miss RC Manubhai Shivani Kumar
• First runner-up: Miss Ba Town Council Lusiana Kaisau Baleirewa
• Miss Personality: Miss LICI Ruci Serea

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