Miss Marianas, Miss Marianas Teen candidates introduced

From bottom left, 2016 Miss Marianas Teen Contestants Alexandra Lee-Sang, Nicole Q. Myers, Palanga Tiara B. Taimanao, and Jyawnna Joyner. Miss Marianas Contestants, Peachy Josifynn Quitigua, Mariebell Q. Aldan Maricris R. Zapanta, 2015 Miss Marianas 2015 Jian Joyner, Joanna Marie G. Navarro Francine B. Sablan, and Angelyn D. Labadan stand before the pageant’s official venue, Fiesta Resort & Spa, during their first press conference last Saturday.  (Frauleine Villanueva-Dizon)

For the first time, Miss Marianas and Miss Marianas Teen will be held in one night this year as 10 ladies will vie for two crowns.

To mark its first decade of pageantry, the islands’ nonprofit pageant and talent group, Stellar Marianas, combined the two pageants, which is set to happen on July 16 at the Hibiscus Hall of the Fiesta Resort & Spa.

“All in all, the CNMI has been in pageantry for over 40 years and Stellar Marianas celebrates 10 years of empowering our young women and showcasing their incredible beauty, intelligence, talent, and dedication to the world,” Stellar Marianas community events director Myla Capilitan said.

“We are super excited to have our Miss Marianas Teen contestants on stage with our Miss Marianas contestants to learn from and support each other. This is a historical moment worthy of two crowns,” she added.

This year’s pageant theme is Nautical Chic, as a modern celebration of the ocean, its resources and beauty.

“We are people of the ocean and we wanted to capture the majestic influence it has over our lives—the imagery, photos, stage, and show design is going to take your breath away,” Capilitan said.

Stellar Marianas has completed its search for eligible candidates and has introduced the candidates.

The 2016 Miss Marianas Teen Pageant contestants are Palanga Tiara B. Taimanao, 16, a junior at Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr Sr. High School and daughter of Elphrain S. and Cecile Blas Taimanao; Jyawnna Joyner, 16, a sophomore at Saipan Southern High School and her guardian is Aurelia Kretzer; Nicole Q. Myers, 16, a sophomore at Marianas High School and daughter of Regino M. and Candace Q. Celis; and Alexandra L. Lee-Sang, 16, a junior at Saipan International School and daughter of David Lee-Sang and Wendi Herring.

The 2016 Miss Marianas contestants are Angelyn D. Labadan, 18, a freshman at Northern Marianas College majoring in Liberal Arts, daughter of Willy Labadan and Asun Demapan; Maricris R. Zapanta, 23, a sophomore at Northern Marianas College as well as a security officer at Best Sunshine Live, daughter of Jerry and Cristeta Zapanta; Mariebell Q. Aldan, 19, graduate of Saipan Southern High School and a games table dealer at Best Sunshine Live, daughter of Leonardo Soriano and Rosario Q. Aldan; Peachy Josifynn Quitigua, 21, a senior at Northern Marianas College, graduating this May with an Associates in Science Nursing, daughter of Rep. Vinson F. Sablan and Roca Q. Sablan; Joanna Marie G. Navarro, 20 years old, senior at Northern Marianas College, graduating this May with a degree in Hospitality Management, daughter of Jonathan Navarro and Marita Bacolot, and; Francine B. Sablan, 20, senior at Northern Marianas College as a Liberal Arts major, also works as a receptionist and dental assistant Dental Care and is the daughter of Franklin and Sandra Sablan.

Jian Joyner, 2015 Miss Marianas, will be crowning the 50th beauty queen to hold the title since the NMI began in pageantry. Preparations have already begun to ensure the historic moment is celebrated.

Stellar Marianas offers an experience beyond pageantry where young women pick up valuable skills such as public speaking, media training, role modeling, current issues, and developing social platforms.

Stellar Marianas is also starting to secure its official major sponsors for the year and welcomes Tresemme’ from D&Q International Distributors as the official hair products for the two pageants.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/stellarmarianas or email stellarqueens@gmail.com.