Friendly North double queen shares a secret about her winning the Vodafone Festival Labasa titles as she works on getting Labasa their first Miss Fiji Pageant.

“I had made the Labasa festival platform my friend. That is how I will relate with the Miss Fiji Pageant and be the first to bring the title to Miss Labasa,” Ms Sheral Chand said.

Sponsored by the Fiji Sugar Corporation Ms Chand was crowned queen of the Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North festival; she was also Miss Charity and was the Best Sarong award winner.

While relaxing at her Delailabasa home in Labasa with parents, Vinay Chand, Sarila Chand, sister-Shreya Chand and best friend-Ashna Sharma yesterday, Ms Chand was ready to walk another platform.

“I was the last queen contestant to be interviewed for this festival and informed just before the launching that I would represent FSC,” Ms Chand said.

“Within one week I had to choose my advocacy message and that was on sustainable products.

“With the help of my parents I was able to prepare my costume and presentation based on this message.

“I didn’t receive any professional speech or catwalk training for this festival.

“For me entering the stage every night was like going to meet my friend at a playground.

“However, sometimes the stage treated me differently because I had to compete with three teachers who were excellent in giving speeches, a knowledgeable doctor, a colleague who is working with me at Labasa Hospital, and intelligent high school students,

“I joined the festival to fulfill my mother’s dream to see me a contestant at a carnival and that was it.

“Being encouraged by my sponsor, families, friends, the crowd cheering for me at the park every night and to see hundreds of farmers and employees of Labasa sugar mill struggling to contribute to the charity chest changed my mind set.

“Fiji Sugar Corporation Labasa mill has immensely contributed to the overall economic development of the Northern Division which many do not understand.

“Although being challenged by ongoing criticism, the Labasa sugar mill continues to operate, providing income to more than 400 employees and exporting sugar abroad so that our country’s name shines before the world.”

This is second year in a row that Fiji Sugar Corporation has retained both the crowns; and eight years in a row winning the charity crown.

“On this note I would like to thank my sponsors, its employees and sugarcane farmers for supporting me,” she said.

“Today I am shouldering the people of Labasa and their dreams as I begin my preparation for the Miss Fiji Pageant.

“It is an honour and a privilege.

“I would also like to thank my parents for preparing my costumes, my sister for my makeup, my best friend Ashna Sharma and my only sibling for standing beside me.”

Meanwhile, her father, Vinay Chand, 46, the managing director of RoadTech Tyre Company Limited in Labasa, said he would like to thank all his families, friends, festival committee members and the Fiji Sugar Corporation for their support towards his daughter.

“I always support my daughter’s dream and my wife and I have already started preparing Sheral for Miss Fiji Pageant,” Mr Chand said.

“To begin with, we have organised a thanksgiving programme this Saturday.”

Mother, Sarila Chand, 46, an office assistant with the Public Rental Board, said she was proud of Sheral.

“My dream was to become a nurse but I couldn’t,” Mrs Chand said.

“I used to share this with Sheral and she chose this profession to encourage me.

“Moreover, she fulfilled another dream of mine that is to see her as queen contestant.”

The Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North committee treasurer, Mohammed Rizwan informed the crowd during the crowning night at Subrail Park in Labasa that the gross proceeds was $257,387 and the funds from the charity chest was $72,487.

Miss FSC, Sheral Chand raised $36,000.

The first runner up in the Miss Charity category was Miss Civil Service, Aachal Chand and she contributed $15,087.

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

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