As Miss Hibiscus 2026 Adi Salamalawa Korosaya celebrates her victory with her family on Father’s Day, her parents are urging parents to lead by example and spend more time with their children, saying strong family values and guidance at home are key to protecting young people from challenges faced by youths such as drugs.
The 23-year-old spent her first day as Miss Hibiscus with her parents and family at Centenary Church, where she gave thanks to God following her victory last night.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Adi Sala says making her parents happy is what makes her happy.
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Her father, Matai Korosaya, says the victory is a special Father’s Day gift and thanked God for giving the family the strength, courage and support throughout the journey.
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Matai, who has four children, says he is grateful that the 70th Hibiscus Festival has placed emphasis on young people and families.
He says the message was also reflected in the sermon at Centenary Church today, which focused on helping and protecting children from challenges affecting the country, including drugs.
Matai says when people ask why so many young people are facing difficulties, the answer comes back to family.
He says the key is the family, and parents have to understand that children watch their behaviour and often follow what they see at home.
Matai says he is not someone who likes to preach, stressing that actions speak louder than words.
He says parents need to set a good example for their children and make time for them, adding that spending quality time with his children has always been important to him.
Adi Salamalawa's mother, Sereima Bokini-Korosaya, says Centenary Church has played an important role in nurturing her daughter's spiritual life and shaping her into the young woman she is today.
She says Adi Salamalawa and her siblings were brought to church from a young age and attended Sunday school, while both parents remained involved in their spiritual upbringing as they grew older.
Sereima is encouraging fathers and other parents to continue supporting their children, spend more time with them at home, teach them strong values and keep them grounded in their Christian faith.
She says young people have the potential and ability to achieve their goals, but this requires hard work, determination, courage and a strong support system from their families.
Sereima believes children are carrying some of the heaviest burdens from the social issues affecting communities and says the solution to many of these challenges begins at home.
Meanwhile, celebrations are expected to continue for the Korosaya family, with Matai saying the victory has brought joy to Daliconi and their wider traditional communities.
