THE first Polynesian plus size model for Sports Illustrated, Veronica Pome’e, is in the country and will be gracing the runway in this year’s Bottega Fijian Fashion Festival.
Ms Pome’e, who is originally from Tonga, said she was honoured to be in the country as her mother, Nitatua Pome’e was part Fijian.
“I am truly honoured to be here and a lot of people don’t know this about me, but my mother is actually part Fijian and Samoan,” she said.
Ms Pome’e said although she came from a very conservative cultural background, she was very mindful that she had to remain rooted in her culture, but not let it hold her back.
“You need to push it forward and in order to do that you may need to do things that may be not so traditional but I think that our ancestors planted this seed for us to think and act freely.
“I am excited to be here and like I said, this is my mum’s family.
This is cool for me to explore the other side of me that I don’t know and I am expecting to see our people shine.”
Ms Pome’e will be hitting the runway during the show at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva tomorrow night.
