Rhyelle Aisea hesitated when she was first approached to join the FMF Hibiscus Festival.
She thought such an event wasn’t for her.
But all this changed after she recalled her own prayers about how “the great things in life were often the difficult things”.
She decided the pageant wasn’t about the crown and joined six other contestants as Miss National Fire Authority.
“It’s not just a crown — it’s a platform to amplify important messages,” the University of the South Pacific student who hails from Pepjei, Rotuma, said.
“I wanted to use this opportunity to honour the men and women of NFA who save lives daily and to connect their mission to the wider issues our communities face.
“That conviction pushed me beyond my comfort zone, and today I stand proud to carry their voice.”
Beyond that stage, she knew her role was to be an ambassador for safety, resilience, and inclusion.
“The Authority is not just about fire trucks, it also saves lives through ambulance services, rescues families during floods, responds to hazardous materials incidents, and educates children in schools.
“As Miss NFA, I want to strengthen that awareness. Every child, every family, every community should know that 910 is the first number to call in an emergency. If even one life is saved because of this message, it will be worth it.”
