Patricia Naisara is rising above challenges and becoming a champion for change.
Originally from Wailevu, Tunuloa in Cakaudrove, Vanua Levu, the 33-year-old hopes to live up to the realistic expectations placed on her.
“Being the eldest is both a privilege and adventure. It is almost an unspoken truth that as the eldest, you form the expectations of your family. I am also the eldest grandchild on my mothers’ side and have carried the title with pride,” she said.
Naisara says that being the oldest means leading by example.
“I always consider it my first leadership role in life. As a young Fijian woman, we are often faced with some very traditional concepts of what it means to be a young Fijian woman and there have been many moments where I had to balance my beliefs against my cultural obligations.
“I am not nor have I ever been perfect, but I am the best version of me that I can be and I make sure that my family always sees that and keeps our expectations realistic.”
Being crowned Miss Hibiscus in 2007 was a rollercoaster for Naisara.
“It is difficult however to ever be seen as something other than Miss Hibiscus. I have achieved many things since that 18-year-old girl, but it seems to be all that anyone ever cares to know, which is a little disappointing.
“Don’t get me wrong, I am absolutely proud of that achievement and my answers throughout, all of which I remember clearly because everything was spoken with passion, but, it was not the only defining moment in my life and I hope that more of me can be seen as I grow.”
Naisara says that deciding not to quit has been her greatest challenge in life.
“Things are only getting harder, my profession is only getting more aggressive, but the light at the end of the tunnel is the opportunities that come with every challenge and the learning each one brings. I am nothing if not always willing to learn.
“There have been many times where throwing the towel in felt like my only option and I was too exhausted to go on. My strong faith and the wonderful village (family and friends alike) that grows and continues to support me and my family have been my greatest pillars of strength.”
She thanks God and her family for helping her overcome her challenges.
“From an empowered man who saw the need to raise independent daughters and support us at every turn to the empowered woman who showed us that there really was no barrier to what you can achieve. My dad has been our greatest pillar of strength and support in how he raised us, but also in how he supported our mother in all her adventures, even when that meant moving to Norway and then China.
“My mum is the epitome of a strong woman whose success is driven by her passion, to many she is just an educator, but to the children she has taught over the course of her career in the countries she has been to, she is so much more.”
Motherhood has helped her grow as a person.
“I was a workaholic who thought everything started and ended with work and those achievements. When I became a mother my perspectives and priorities took a drastic turn. Suddenly my ambitions fell on my list of priorities and my children became my literal world.”
She shares that her greatest milestone was coming to terms with and learning about her son’s autism.
“We are no longer so quick to judge, we have become more patient and the level of empathy we now feel is beyond what we could have imagined we ever would. I always had your typical “first fighter” spirit, but I have learnt more about my energy over time and where it needs to be and at what level I need it to be at and that has helped me a lot in recent years.
“We grew as a family, nuclear and extended and continue to grow because of him.”
A lawyer by profession, the 33-year-old often feels like her real job is being a mum to her three wonderful boys.
“Right now as a working mum, there is limited free time and when there is, I like to spend it with my children doing whatever it is they want to do.
“There is never a dull moment and they keep me on my toes.”
Apart from the many achievements she’s accomplished, she was given the opportunity to host the television show The Pacific Way.
“I was approached to guest host for a season as they were still looking for someone to fill the role permanently.
“After filming the season, the team asked if I was interested in taking it on permanently and I jumped at the opportunity.
“It was a show I loved to watch as a child and have always thought it truly provided content that was relevant to us as Pacific islanders.”
Taking over the role from Lenora Qereqeretabua who had been the face of the program for 25 years, Naisara was worried about the “big shoes” she had to fill.
“It has been a great journey so far. The team is amazing and while I was always worried about the ‘big shoes I had to fill’ I was very quickly reminded to bring my own shoes and wear them.
“That is, hopefully, where we can take the show and in being a young Fijian woman, I hope to be a role model to the modern Fijian woman, similar to my predecessor.”
Naisara is currently the senior manager legal at the Westpac Banking Corporation.
Her advice to young women is, remember to always help the next one in line.
“Just because we had to struggle to get to where we are today, it does not mean that they have to go through the same struggles.”
