Miss Hibiscus 2024, Melania Tora, along with 1st Runner Up Martina Sigrah and 2nd Runner Up Pepe Malani, visited the Pearce Home in Suva to meet Fiji’s first-ever Miss Hibiscus, Liebling Marlow.
The Hibiscus Committee says located at the corner of Butt and Gordon Streets, the Pearce Home has been a sanctuary for many Fijians in their twilight years since the early 1960s, including luminaries like Liebling Marlow, who paved the way for generations of Hibiscus queens.
The Committee says the visit was a heartwarming moment where Tora, Sigrah, and Malani paid tribute to the legacy of Fiji’s inaugural queen.
They say it was an opportunity for them to connect with a key figure in the history of the Miss Hibiscus Festival, sharing stories and reflecting on how far the pageant has come.
The Committee says residents of home, who have all contributed to the development of Suva as Fiji's capital, were delighted to engage with the reigning Hibiscus royalty.
They say the Pearce Home, founded by Albert Ernest Pearce, is not just a place for food and shelter, but a home that fosters spiritual and emotional well-being.
The Committee says it provides a tranquil environment where its residents can reflect on their lives, reliving the love of family, the laughter of children, and the warmth of friendship.
They say today’s visit highlighted the importance of acknowledging the contributions of those who have come before us.
The Committee adds it was a touching reminder of the deep ties between the Miss Hibiscus Festival and the people of Suva, particularly the values of family, community, and care that the festival upholds.
