Apart from being a public health nurse for Kidz First - Community Health, Fono is also a community leader, Pacific youth advocate, foster mother of five tamariki and newly crowned Miss Samoa New Zealand.

Growing up in Otara, Fono wanted to be a cop, but after taking part in the Health Science Academy at Tangaroa College, she decided to switch to nursing. Although being a community-based nurse and a beauty pageant seems worlds apart, for Fono, both roles align with serving her community and making a positive difference.