A Fijian Miss Idaho Teen USA 2010
// October 30th, 2009 // Fiji Coup Coverage
“Fiji is my home. I love Idaho but my heart will always be home in Ca’audrove.”
-Hosanna Kabakoro
This story about a 16-year old Fijian-American teenager winning a beauty contest in the USA was a much-needed break from the quick-scanning of the thousand articles that I engage in daily, along with constant regurgitation of the same old boring themes.
Apparently, Hosanna has been making waves for quite some time. Not only did Hosanna Kobakoro win Miss Idaho Teen USA 2010, but she also won the title of Miss Congeniality and was voted Most Photogenic in an online contest. Mark my words–she will be the next most famous Fijian after golfer Vijay Singh.
She is not just all beauty and no brains as stereotypes go. Hosanna has received awards and recognition from the former First Lady Laura Bush for her volunteer work. And as far as intelligence goes, I found an award-winning essay by Hosanna that was incredibly moving considering the story is all too familiar:
When I was 12 years old, Fiji’s government was overthrown in its third coup d’etat since 1987. Indigenous Fijians, stirred by ambitious rabble rousers, began tormenting the minority populations of Indians, Asians and Europeans. Shops were looted and burned, homes were invaded and gangs of armed rebels controlled highways and rural roads.
One hot afternoon, while my dad was away, a tractor carrying 30 armed men crashed through our gate. They splashed kerosene over our house and belongings. When I recognized one of them as my playmate’s father, I asked, “Momo,” Uncle! Why are you doing this?”
He shouted that Fiji was for Fijians. The men called us names and brandished their machetes. They destroyed our garden and tore up our taro and cassava plants. We had no choice but to leave our home and move to Idaho where we started over from scratch.
Fiji is indeed, for Fijians. The Fiji Times is happy to call her Fijian rather than using any other hyphenated designation while celebrating her success. We need more ambitious and driven young people like Hosanna back in Fiji rather than spending our lives in exile from the only country we call home. Sadly, while corrupt ‘leaders’ like Bainimarama stay in power, we may never be safe in our homes.
Congratulations Hosanna. I hope to see you back home in a decade, making the difference that you as well as many other people envision for Fiji.
-A Fijian from California
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
13 Responses to “A Fijian Miss Idaho Teen USA 2010”
Leave a Reply
- Ab Deviller said: I want to see Bipasha & larra dutta in Lesbian...
- Karen said: I know what you mean. I am a (former) DREAMer who ...
- Prerna said: http://www.dreamactivist.org/support-dream-act-tsh...
- david said: I'm a white male and I often get treated the same ...
- Maegan la Mala Ortiz said: This person has a very bad habit of talking about ...
- Prerna Lal said: I think it might be that I have more fans on Twitt...
- A Fijian Miss Idaho Teen USA 2010
- Airport Travel Tips for Undocumented Immigrants
- My Coming Out Story - Growing Up Gay in Fiji
- Top 5 Bollywood Lesbian Icons
- Coming out in the New York Times
Vina'a Kai…you make me cry. It is such an honor to be a Fijian….and my prayer is that soon, and very soon, ALL FIJIANS will be united at heart and we can move away from the violence, bitterness and hatred of the past few years.
You make us all proud Hosanna. Keep your eyes on the prize and don't let anyone or anything stop you from achieving your dreams.
I don't get it…. If she was 12 years old in the 2000 coup, doesn't that make her 21 years old??
Bula,
She’s definitely 16, since we can’t really make up ages here in the USA. I think there might be a mistake and she is either referring to the 2006 coup or confusing dates. It’s a good question though. I am not sure what sort of violence ensued post 2006. I know 2000 was pretty bad though.
Bula Lal. Disagree. A gifted teen knows how to count. She is supposed to be too gifted with intelligence to miscalculate her own age. There was an article where her mother, Summer did commit that her daughter Hosanna attended St Joseph's back in Fiji. There was a family photo set in Suva (in 2000) on geocities captioned, Hosanna 12 years old. This was featured on their family site which has since been removed. A family photo of the parents and the girls. The little sister wasn't 2 years old either at the time.
Doubt she miscalculated the 2000 coup. There are other places she and her mother had mentioned the 2000 coup distinctly.
Interesting. Are you saying she is lying about her age? Wow. That would be a serious allegation. Might want to check in regarding this because it probably means she isn’t a teen and somewhere near 20, which also means stripping her of teen crown? That’s just a controversy I wouldn’t want to get into. Ouch.
IF THE YOUNG LADY IS REFERING TO THE 2000 COUP THAN CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG…..SHE WOULD BE 21YRS OF AGE NOW…..BUT IF SHE IS REFERING TO THE 2006 MILITARY TAKE OVER THAN THE YOUNG LADY HAS ALOT TO PROVE ABOUT THE VIOLENCE THAT TOOK PLACE THEN…..FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE WERE NO BURNING NOR LOOTING OF SHOPS IN THE SUVA AREA…….THE TERRORISING OF INDIANS, ASIANS AND EUROPEANS ONLY HAPPENED IN 2000.
SO MS KABAKORO SHOULD TRY AND BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE YEAR OF THE TAKEOVER AND HER AGE AT THE TIME OF THE COUP…..
In the year 2000, I was 8 years old. That year, our home in Cakaudrove was taken over as described. We left and lived in America for 1 year. We tried numerous times to return to our land and home, but each and every time, we were threatened, had our crops destroyed, belongings stolen or damaged, copra stolen, dogs poisoned etc…so in the end, we moved to Idaho.
I apologize for any confusion. Frankly, I was very young, and probably did get dates mixed up at some point. I think the photo in question was taken in 2004, while we were staying in Suva.
continued
I have been raised to always tell the truth, and I attempt to do so at all times. However, in addition to any slip of my "tongue", I may have made, as with any published "quote" or article, the facts are only as valid as the writer makes them to be.
For the record, the violence did not just occur in 2000. The ramifications of the 2000 coup went on as long as I lived in Fiji….with lootings, burnings and harassment of non-Fijians a regular occurrence in areas outside Viti Levu. The coups of 1987 and 2000 brought to the surface, deep, long standing emotions that were never dealt with properly. Simply installing a new government did not erase those hurts.
Thanks for the clarifications Hosanna.
God Bless.
I try always, to represent my nation with dignity, truth and grace. Sadly, part of my own personal history is that I experienced racial bias and hatred, and the violence that often accompanies that hatred. I try not to dwell on the events of 2000-2005 but they are very much a part of who I am.
May God bless Fiji..and the precious people who live in our great nation.
congratulation Hossana. you definitely made us proud and thank you for standing up for yourself. really shows what a strong fijian woman you are. i hope to see you when you come to fiji one day. all the best in your future endeavours.
Dear Hosanna,
Personally, I'd like to take this time to acknowledge your courage to stand up for your self and thank you for speaking out. A lot of people nowadays are too scared to speak out because they're threatened by the leadership of our government. My point is if someone who would like to be heard or have a say about the present government, that particular person could be arrested…according to the rumors I've been hearing. I thought Fiji was suppose to be, "the way the world should be!" What about now?
Only one thing, we can do now is….Pray….and wait upon the Lord!
God bless you, Hosanna!