Miss Fiji Contestants inspired by Pure Fiji’s women-led success story

The Miss Fiji Pageant contestants visited the Pure Fiji headquarters today, where they learned how one of Fiji’s most successful skincare brands was built and led by women.

Reigning Miss Fiji 2019, Jessica Fong, said the visit was empowering, especially after learning that Pure Fiji is owned and led by two women, Andree and Gaetane Austin.

“What we knew before coming was that the company is owned by two women, and that is very empowering for us. We want to promote women empowerment through our platform, and seeing how they started small and built this big successful company is inspiring.”

Pure Fiji began in 1996, starting with simple soap-making at a kitchen table. Over the years, the company expanded into lotions, oils, and spa products, becoming one of Fiji’s most recognised beauty brands. It now employs more than 250 staff, including workers at its main facility and soap factory.

Ms Fong said learning this history gave her and the contestants a deeper appreciation of how women can create lasting change through hard work and innovation.

“We saw the room where they first started with just a small bucket, and now they have six processing chambers. It shows how far they’ve come,” she said.

Pure Fiji representative Melissa Sara, who has worked with the company for eight years, said the visit went well and that the contestants learned about the brand’s long journey.

“Even though Pure Fiji is a well-known Fijian brand, not many people know its story,” she said. “It started from a kitchen and grew from soaps to a whole range of products. Because it is owned by women, the company strongly supports women empowerment.”

Ms Sara added that Pure Fiji’s founders, including Mrs Austin, have always valued employing and uplifting Fijians.

She ended with a message for the contestants: “Always be yourself. When you stay true to who you are, everything flows.”

The visit highlighted how Pure Fiji’s women-led story continues to inspire young women across the country.

Feedback: rariqi.turner@fijisun.com.fj