Starlight – Donnalesi Vaubula

Donnalesi Vaubula

Founder of FIJI RUNWAY, based in California

STARLIGHT on DONNALESI VAUBULA, kaiViti Californian, boss rower and Founder of FIJI RUNWAY, a platform that showcases Fiji origin fashion designers; design and culture to San Francisco and the world.

“Viticulture” Donna calls it, another way to perceive a holiday destination, as a fashion and arts drawcard. For the discerning Cultural Tourist.

Donna is known to those in the know, as the one who gets things done, and for those who know modern Fijian history, as the one ahead of her time…

Photographs by Raw Fiji.

1. Current mood’s 5 favourite songs?
Oh that’s a little difficult!
Janet Jackson – ‘Runaway’ / Donna Lewis – ‘Always and Forever’ / Madonna – ‘Vogue’ / Whitney Houston – ‘I look to you’ / Brownstone – ‘If you love me’.

2. Time travel: when, where and why?
The 90s – best fashion & music era. Also to fix all the moments that trigger me now.

3. What are you most grateful for?
Growing up in Fiji.

4. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
The gift of life.

5. What colour would you use to describe yourself?
Pink cos I’m girly and I believe in empowering females. It’s also a calming color and I believe I am a calm person.

6. Name a book that had an impact on you and why.
‘Alice in Wonderland’ – it was my favourite book to read as a child. Absolutely creative and whimsical.

As an adult in 2025, ‘Relentless’ by Tim Grover.

This book really put things into perspective for me, especially when I was going through a tough time in business and health and wasn’t sure about what my purpose was.

7. What’s something that takes up way too much of your time?

Writing proposals and designing on Canva (platform founded by Asian-Australian woman Melanie Perkins)

8. What keeps you going on hard days? What is Faith to you?
My faith, prayer and purpose.

I believe in God and that he created the Heavens and the Earth and that he is Sovereign over my life. He is my true Guardian.

9. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done (so far)?
Built a startup in the U.S!!

Partnering up with some really good brands like Tourism Fiji, Fiji Water, Malolo Island Resort, Frank Family Vineyards, Fiji Airways.

10. What’s your idea of a perfect holiday?
In Fiji on a white beach with no mobile or laptop!

11. What’s a favourite childhood memory of your birth city?
That’s hard to pin

Getting on a helicopter with my grandfather, journalist Stan Ritova. I think I was 5 years old and I wasn’t scared.

[Editor’s Notes: Stan Ritova is a media Legend of this region.]

12. Do you have tattoos?
A tribal turtle tattoo thanks to [a friend] Jacqui St Julian-Irving.
I was in Auckland, New Zealand (I lived in NZ for 5 years). The turtle is so peaceful and it reminded me of Fiji and migration patterns. \

13. If you could “plug in”and learn immediately, what subject would you take a super-crash course in?
Photography and developing black and white photos, purely for recreational purposes.

14. Is there a movie you could watch over and over again?
Depends on my mood.

Probably ‘Devil Wears Prada’ or ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ since I’ve seen it a million times. It helps with work!
If it’s to have a good laugh then ‘Monster in Law’ (but I had a really nice Mother in Law) or ‘How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days’.
Action… always Denzel Washington (‘Equalizer Part 1-3, ”Man on Fire’).

15. What is fashion to you?
The story of my life, haha. Fashion is a creative expression that reflects the values of a certain time, place and society.

16. What is your style signature?
Minimalist.

17. What fills you with purpose?

My work.

18. What do you want to be remembered for?
Being kind, generous and creative.
[Editor’s notes: 3/3]

19. If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be?
My favourite shirtdress; my Bible; the book ‘Relentless’; my paddle [Donna is a competitive rower and BOSS at it.]; a pair of comfortable running shoes, preferably Adidas.

20. THREE things you love about yourself…. and ONE thing you would change.
My baseline is being happy, having empathy and a strong faith in God.
I need to stop saying yes and learn to say no.