21-year-old Fijian content creator Anush Maharaj is now a two-time Guinness World Record holder after being recognised for identifying the most countries in 30 seconds.
Maharaj, also known as The Mystic and originally from Labasa, secured the record on 21st of this month following a verification process that took almost seven months.
Maharaj says he was happy to receive confirmation of his second world record and is proud to have represented Fiji on a global stage.
He says his latest record is different from his first achievement because it is a completely new title, with no previous record holder.
Maharaj previously broke the world record for identifying the most company logos in 30 seconds after identifying 60 logos.
He says the previous record was held by India, making his first achievement a record he surpassed, while his latest achievement is the first record of its kind and is currently held by Fiji.
Maharaj says the process of securing his latest record took months because applicants have to wait for guidelines, complete the record attempt and submit the required evidence before it can be verified.
He says he was motivated to pursue the records by his goal of building a career in content creation.
Maharaj is a content creator who posts vlogs on TikTok, and says his dream is to become one of the biggest content creators in Fiji.
He says he decided to pursue another world record after his first achievement did not result in the opportunities he had hoped for.
Maharaj says although it was heartbreaking at the time, he decided to continue working towards his goal and spent months preparing for his second record.
He hopes his latest achievement will open up opportunities and help him build a career through content creation.
Maharaj also reflected on his experience with cyberbullying and says young people should understand that hate and criticism can come with gaining popularity on social media.
He says people should not allow negative comments to distract them from their goals and should instead focus on what they are trying to achieve.
Maharaj says he does not yet have a definite plan for another world record but has not ruled out attempting a third record if an opportunity arises.
His message to young people is to pursue their dreams, believe in themselves and not allow people who doubt them to stop them.
Maharaj says he wants to continue creating content and hopes his achievements can help show that Fijians can gain international recognition through their talents and determination.
