SEVENTY years ago Liebling Marlow was crowned Fiji’s first Hibiscus Festival Queen without ever wearing a crown.
And yesterday, the 88-year-old was honoured with a crown as the festival celebrated its journey from a modest community event to one of the country’s best-known events.
Ms Marlow was presented with the crown during a special Queens Morning Tea, while her two runners-up, Suzzane Spears and Lydia Manueli, received their sashes.
When the festival began in 1956, there were no crowns or sashes. It was centred on community spirit, a legacy that has continued even as the event has evolved over the decades.
Former queens also took the floor, sharing memories of their reigns, personal experiences and advice with the 2026 contestants.
Festival director Ellen Whippy-Knight said the gathering was a meaningful reflection of Hibiscus’ past and present.
For Ms Marlow, yesterday’s crown was more than a symbol — it was a link between when the festival began and how far it has come.
