The eldest child of Ratu Sir George Cakobau (the late Vunivalu of Bau and Governor-General), Talakuli held a number of senior positions in the Fijian government. She was Minister for iTaukei Affairs in 1994 and 1995, and was considered as a candidate for the Vice-Presidency in 1997. She became Fiji's High Commissioner to Malaysia^[1] and Ambassador to Thailand and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in 1999 ^[2]

Appointed to the Fijian Senate in June 2006 as one of nine nominees of the Fijian government, Talakuli was also appointed to the Cabinet as a Minister without portfolio. As the eldest child of the last Vunivalu of Bau, she was considered the most senior chief of the Kubuna Confederacy; however, she was not a member of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga.^[3]

Talakuli was the eldest child of Ratu Sir George Cakobau (the late 11th Vunivalu of Bau and Governor-General).^[4] Her siblings include Ratu Epenisa Cakobau (half-brother), Ratu George Cakobau, Jr. and Adi Litia Cakobau. She married Manasa Talakuli, who was the first Fijian to be commissioned in the British Army.