Miss NMI World confirmed to leave for China

The Northern Marianas Beauty Pageant Association managed to secure enough funds yesterday to enable Miss NMI World 2004 Tracy Del Rosario to compete in this year’s 54th Miss World contest in Sanya, southern China.

NMBPA president Bill Bezzant scotched reports that 20-year-old Del Rosario would not be able to participate in the pageant, saying in an interview yesterday that the Office of House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, as well as the Marianas Visitors Authority and other private firms have confirmed helping them with funds.

“Funding is always difficult, and just [yesterday] we were able get funding. Everything came through,” he said.

Bezant said Del Rosario was originally scheduled to leave for the pageant today; however, because of the late infusion of funds, her departure would be at a later date.

According to Carmen Sablan of NMBPA, Del Rosario’s departure would be sometime next week.

While in Sanya, Del Rosario would engage in various pre-pageant activities leading up to the pageant itself, which is scheduled to unfold on Dec. 4.

The 2004 Miss World would have participants from about 120 countries, and is second to the Olympics in terms of participation of nations. Last year, about 162 nations viewed the event with an audience of about 2.3 billion people.

Also, a new addition to the competition was recently announced: the first ever world vote to decide the winner.

Television voting will take place during an eight-day period, beginning on Nov. 26 with votes via telephone or text, while other votes may be made through the Internet at www.missworld.tv, beginning Nov. 10. All countries have the opportunity to cast their votes

Del Rosario is currently a full-time Liberal Arts student at the Northern Marianas College and aspires to specialize in Special Education in the future. In addition to balancing her studies and job, Del Rosario is active in the community service as an altar server for the San Antonio Church.

Del Rosario, daughter of Herbert and Rose Del Rosario, won the nod of the board of judges during the 2004 Miss Northern Marianas beauty pageant when she eloquently invited prospective investors to visit the CNMI to witness its unique culture.

Del Rosario bested seven other candidates during the three-and-a-half- hour annual competition. McDonald’s Saipan and Agot Santos of Genoveva’s Hair Power assisted her.