The 2017 Vodafone Hibiscus Kings crown winner Beniyamino Vakadranu on Saturday night dedicated his win to all the farmers who work hard to provide for their families around the country.

The 23-year-old dalo, yaqona and vegetable cultivator from Taveuni said the broadcasting of his name for the win was surreal.

“It was an unexpected and unbelievable feeling when they announced that I was this year’s King,” he said.

Mr Vakadranu is from Vuda village from the province of Cakaudrove and has maternal links from Yasawa.

Mr Vakadranu said his family wept tears of joy upon the announcement of him being crowned the King.

“They didn’t expect me to win and it was an unbelievable reaction as they enjoyed that moment.”

He acknowledged his sponsor Lamasi, a retail company all the way from Vanuatu.

Mr Vakadranu said this was the sponsors first time to sponsor a contestant in the Vodafone Hibiscus Festival.

“My sponsors were very happy as it was their first time and they had won the crown, people from Vanuatu were just jumping around in excitement,” he said.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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