In 1996, at just 23, Lynda Tabuya was looking beyond the glamour of the Hibiscus Carnival.
Fresh from being crowned Miss Hibiscus that year, the Suva City Council entrant said her greatest hope was to use the opportunity to reach out to Fiji’s young people, many of whom she believed were struggling to find direction.
Better known to her friends as Lynda, she had beaten five other contestants to claim the coveted crown.
After a demanding week of carnival activities, the new queen spent the following days at home recovering and regaining her strength.
But even in the quiet after the competition, her thoughts remained firmly on the country’s youth.
“I would like to see something done about Fiji’s youth and their problems,” she said in a report published in The Fiji Times on August 26, 1996.
“Most young people of today seem to be lost and without direction.”
She said she would welcome the opportunity to speak to young people and encourage them to find a purpose in life, whether through community work, the church or other avenues.
“I would like to see them develop their talents and build their confidence. Most are capable of overcoming their problems. They just need a bit of encouragement.”
For Ms Tabuya, the crowning night was one of the greatest surprises of her life.
She admitted she had not expected the crown, particularly because she considered the other contestants equally capable.
“I did not have the slightest idea that the Hibiscus crown would come my way,” she said.
Despite that uncertainty, she said she remained confident throughout the competition and simply decided to give it her best.
“I just had a go at it and took things as they came.”
The competition also gave the young lawyer more than a crown and title.
“I think I’ve gained a lot of confidence through the contest, and this has made me a better public speaker, which is just what I need in my profession as a lawyer.”
Ms Tabuya said she entered the Hibiscus carnival not primarily for the prizes, but because of the opportunity to become involved with the wider community.
The experience, however, came with its pressures.
After the final night, she described the feeling as though a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
She was finally able to relax and enjoy the moment with her family, who had supported her throughout the competition.
She said winning the crown was also a lesson in being genuine.
“I think that to win the Hibiscus crown, one has to be oneself and not put on airs because the judges can easily tell if one is not sincere.”
She came from a family of seven, with one sister and three brothers.
Her mother hailed from Nagasauva, Tawake in Cakaudrove while her father was from Tiliva, Nakasaleka, Kadavu.
She received her primary education at Yat Sen Primary School in Suva before attending Adi Cakobau School in Sawani, where she was dux in 1990.
Her academic journey would eventually lead her into the legal profession.
