Carrying the hopes of the Ra Province and a message of strength for young people, 24-year-old Shrdha Mala enters the Miss Fiji Pageant with a passion shaped by her work as a frontline nurse and her commitment to empowering youth.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Mala says her journey to the national stage is one she never expected to take, and now stands proudly with the support of her community, colleagues and family.
She says their encouragement has given her the confidence to use her platform to make a real difference, particularly for young people who often feel overlooked.
As a registered nurse, her advocacy centres on promoting health and well-being through the prevention of HIV and drug abuse.
Mala says her daily experience in the health sector has shown her how drugs and disease affect youth across all backgrounds, often tearing families apart.
She says she wants to be a voice for young people, reminding them that they are not alone and that neither HIV nor drug abuse should be seen as a stigma.
Although she did not join the full pageant tour, having been the last contestant crowned after her carnival ended in November, Mala says the visits she was able to join were inspiring.
A highlight for her was the visit to Pure Fiji, where she learned about the brand’s beginnings in a small kitchen led by a mother-daughter team.
The Miss Fiji Pageant 2025 enters its first day today and will run through to Saturday, with the crowning set at the Suva Civic Centre.
