Ashlin Prasad, who is representing Fiji in the Queen of International Tourism Beauty Pageant aims to make her family and her country proud as she showcases Fiji’s traditions, culture, values, virtues and norms in the Philippines.
The 18-year-old says she was approached by the National Director after seeing her in an advertisement for Jacks of Fiji and she initially thought this was a scam and let her family deal with it but after doing her research, she found that it was legitimate.
Prasad says 50 other countries are also part of the pageant and for her, it is not about winning but showcasing the beauty of Fiji.
As more youths are being found with drugs in the country, Prasad is urging them to stop abusing themselves and not do something that will harm them.
She says if you are going through something, then seek help and speak to someone you trust or students can speak to their school counsellors.
Prasad is urging everyone to be patient, persistent and perspiration.
She says people were not supportive of her dreams especially because she was a brilliant student and led her school team in the IQ Active competition, but she says she wanted to be a model so she stood her ground and later got the support of her family.
The Queen of International Tourism Beauty Pageant will be held in the Philippines from the 12th to the 24th of March.
