2017 Miss Vodafone Hibiscus Queen Candace Veramu was not expecting to win the top crown and was shocked when her name was announced over the public address system.

“I actually thought they called out the wrong name and I was in shock when I realised I was the queen for this year,” said the 20-year-old fashion designer student.

“I remember turning back to the girls and I thought… what?”

Ms Veramu who represented Telecom Fiji was announced the winner on Saturday night from 15 other contestants in a weeklong celebration at the Vodafone Arena at Laucala in Suva.

Miss Fulton Hogan Hiways Karalaini Korovulavula walked away with the first runner-up position, Miss Cure Fiji Buli Wainiqolo was second runner-up, Miss Fiji Times Charlene Lanyon won the third runner-up; and fourth runner up was taken out by Miss APCO Shivani Lal.

Ms Veramu said her participation at the carnival was like a birthday present and the crown was the icing on the cake.

“I am proud that I made my family happy and I acknowledge everyone for their support in helping me prepare for all the various nights for the past week,” she said.

The Vanua Levu lass has Australian ancestry from her mother’s side and her parents Jesse and Suzanne Veramu are landscape designers.

She has three younger brothers.

Ms Veramu said she had to overcome a few hurdles during the contest.

“It’s not easy knowing that when you go into this competition that you are going to get judged,” she said.

“No one really likes negative comments so you really have to filter out the bad things and focus on the good.

“Being in this competition I went through a phase of self-doubt because of the environment around me and the stress levels and all these other things that go through your mind.”

She said stage fright was a reality and she learned to stop focusing on herself but rather the message that she was going to deliver to cope.

Ms Veramu gave credit to her colleagues from fashion design school for creating the outfits she wore during the week.

Her designer name is KENDAKE and she plans to create her own sports line wear in the future to promote fitness.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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