Miss Marianas, Miss Marianas Teen contestants ready for pageant night

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01 Jul 2016

 

By Bryan Manabat - bryan@mvariety.com - Variety News Staff

STELLAR Marianas on Thursday held a media conference for the 2016 Miss Marianas Teen and Miss Marianas contestants in the Marianas Visitors Authority conference room.

The candidates spoke about their experiences so far.

According to Stellar Marianas president Laila Y. Boyer, “This year’s theme: ‘Nautical Chic,’ celebrates our beautiful and majestic ocean and everything about it including the need to protect our most valuable natural resources.”

Unveiled during the press conference was the official car for the 2016 Miss Marianas, a 2016 Hyundai Accent that features a fuel efficient 4-cycle engine, automatic transmission, keyless entry, USB bluetooth, six airbags, and a 4-wheel ABS.

Miss Teen Marianas contestant Jywanna Joyner, a 16-year-old Saipan Southern High School student, said: “I’ve been having so much fun…and I’m coming out of my shell because I’m really a shy person and the pageant is helping me become more confident.”

Palanga Tiara B. Taimanao said: “My experience so far with the girls has been something really new to me…and yeah I’m hoping for the best.” Taimanao, 16, is a student at Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr.-Sr. High School on Rota.

Nicole Myers, 16 and a Marianas High School student, thanked the sponsors. “Without you guys we wouldn’t be having this amazing journey to the pageant so I really appreciate it.”

2016 Miss Marianas contestant Angelyn Labadan, 18 and a Northern Marianas College student, said the pageant is an entirely new experience for her. “Like most of the girls I never thought I would take part in this pageant. But yeah it is really a good experience. It is something I never thought that I would do but it is really great that I did it.”

“It has been wonderful,” said another Miss Marianas contestant, 23-year-old Maricris Zapanta. “It is such a great experience meeting new people.”

Zapanta added, “It helped me come out of my shell. It made me more confident, and I love how we are involved with the community. I’m thankful I joined this pageant because I’ve met such wonderful people.”

Zapanta said she wishes all the contestants good luck.

Mariebell Aldan, 19, said the pageant has been an amazing journey. “It’s really crazy that three months ago we didn’t know that we’re going to be taking part in the pageant, and now we are like two weeks away from the pageant.” The 19-year-old is a graduate of SSHS and currently works as a dealer at Best Sunshine Live.

Peachy Josifynn Quitugua, 21 and a Northern Marianas College student who received an associate of science degree in nursing last month, said her experience with the pageant is “truly, truly amazing — I just want to thank all of you for being such a great part of my journey [and for] inspiring young girls and beautiful young ladies. It is truly an amazing experience.”

For Joanna Marie G. Navarro, this is her second time to participate in the Miss Marianas pageant.

“But this is another journey, another experience and it may be the same title, but the experience is always different. I always learn different lessons every day.” The 20-year-old is a hospitality management student at NMC.

Francine B. Sablan, 20 years old and a liberal arts student at the college, said: “My experience overall has been amazing. Working with all these beautiful ladies, we got to know each other, we opened up, and honestly all I can say is that we’re more than just beautiful. We’re unique in so many ways, and we learn how to help the community and to be involved. It has been a fun experience and I’m so happy about taking part in it.”

Reigning Miss Marianas Jian Joyner said she is excited to see the 2016 contestants on stage.

“I like this group, especially because it’s a mix of Miss Teen and Miss Marianas, and they’re very open, and I thought I would have trouble because I’m also a shy person, but they really help me open up even more.”

THE REIGNING MISS MARIANAS, JIAN JOYNER, POSES WITH MISS MARIANAS AND MISS TEEN MARIANAS CONTESTANTS AS WELL AS THIS YEAR’S PAGEANT SPONSORS. PHOTO BY BRYAN MANABAT

The sponsors of this year’s pageant also talked about their participation.

Marpac’s James Lee said: “We are always honored to sponsor and help out with our islands’ beauty pageants. It definitely helps our tourism as well because whoever the lucky winner is will be representing the CNMI.”

Chris Concepcion, MVA managing director, is pleased to support events like this that help market the CNMI overseas. “We thank the Stellar Marianas group for all their hard work. To all the contestants, good luck!”

Randy Steele, Triple J Motors general manager, said they have been involved in the pageant “for longer than I’ve been with Triple J — close to 20 years probably.”

He added, “We proudly provide the winner of the pageant with a brand new car to drive for one year, and we believe that it’s an outstanding event. Something that teaches the contestants poise, and how to confidently speak in front of others, which is something they will need when interviewing for college or with prospective employers. It’s just a great way for them to, as one contestant stated, ‘come out of their shells.’ We’re happy to be an event sponsor.”

Milan Rabold, Duty Free Saipan general manager, said: “We have also been sponsoring this event for many, many years and are very happy to do so. Among other things, it is about beauty, and we work in the pleasure and luxury industry so we feel it’s a natural fit. We’re very happy to continue supporting the pageant.”

Tyce Mister, Gold Gym’s general manager, said: “We’re very happy to have you guys doing some practice in our facilities. I just think it’s a wonderful thing for your wellness, fitness and nutrition.”

According to Veronica Acosta, IT&E project manager, “We’ve been supporting the Stellar Marianas pageant for several years now. Our sponsorship is mainly for cellular service for the queen, and the Viewers’ Choice Award and that person gets a phone as well. We sponsor mainly because it encourages our young ladies to be active in the community and to promote our islands in the world when they compete in international pageants.”

Jacki Fujihira, D&Q sales and marketing manager, said as a distributor, they want to promote their products. “And what better product to help with Stellar Marianas than TRESemmé: it’s a salon, affordable hair product that the girls use.”

Fujihira added, “We do this because we believe you should always invest in your hair. Your hair is a crown that you never take off. So girls no matter who wins you still have your ‘crown.’ ”

Philip Canuto of Island Touch by Philip said even a small business person such as he is tries to help the community and promote the islands to the world by sponsoring local beauty pageants.

Stellar Marianas president Laila T. Boyer also recognized the other sponsors that could not make it to the press conference: Power 99, Fiesta Resort and Serena Marianas

According to Analee Torres of Burger, Comer, Magliari LLC, four of them will be the official tabulators for the pageant which will be held on July 16, 2016, Saturday, in the Fiesta Resort & Spa’s Hibiscus Hall.

http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/87395-miss-marianas-miss-marianas-teen-contestants-ready-for-pageant-night