Modeling that goes beyond skin deep

With its school cafeteria in desperate need of repair, members of the Mt. Carmel High School Modeling Club is taking it upon themselves to “make a difference” and has been organizing various fundraisers that will lead up to a pageant early next year.

Dubbed as Fashion Extravaganza 2005/Mr. and Miss Model of the Year Pageant, the event is intended to raise about $15,000-$20,000 for the cafeteria’s repair.

“The cafeteria building has been in Mt. Carmel since my dad went to high school, and it has been here since the CNMI was started, so it’s like a historical monument,” said club member Michael Deleon Guerrero.

Other fundraisers include bake sales, hot lunch sales, a school dance, and possibly a raffle drawing.

The pageant, scheduled to unfold on Feb. 26, would also feature program souvenirs, which serves as another “money-making” segment of the general fundraising effort, according to club coordinator Julieta D. Cunanan.

“We’re going to have souvenir programs featuring the candidates [in the pageant], just like a regular pageant and would include spaces for companies to place advertisements,” she said.

The 20 members of the club [10 boys and 10 girls] are currently working with choreographer Ernie Molina, who also directs the Miss CNMI and Miss Teen CNMI pageants, in preparing for the major event.

Various category titles up for grabs are Mr. and Miss Photogenic, Mr. and Miss Congeniality, Mr. and Miss Charity, Best Talent, Best in Sports Wear, Best in National Costume, and Best in Formal Wear.

Due to the number of participants, Deleon Guerrero said talent performances will be done in groups of about “three or so.”

“It’s going to be a great show,” he said.

The pageant will also include presentations from the school’s elementary level and middle school level.

Cunanan also disclosed that former Miss CNMI and Miss Teen beauty queens have been contacted to assist and take part in the pageant. Three, including Miss CNMI South Pacific 2003 Olivia Tebuteb, have shown interest in taking part.

The club was initiated this past October, courtesy of the freshmen class officers, before growing to its current size.

“It’s an extra-curricular activity, and it’s fun, and I never did think about being a model but decided to try it out,” said member Pomokai Aldan. “It’s also for a good cause.”

“So far, it’s really exciting and fun,” said Charmaine Hofschneider. “We would go and dress up and take pictures, so it’s just really fun.”

Fellow member Vincent Aldan echoed Hofschneider’s comments, citing that the club presents “something different” for him.

“I’ve done sports all my life, and so this is something different,” he said. “It’s also the only time you’ll get to see me in make-up other than Halloween.”

Majority of the members agreed that since becoming a part of the club, their view toward modeling has changed.

“It’s a little more technical and it feels kind of odd practicing walking when you’ve been doing it all your life,” Deleon Guerrero said.

So far, the club has almost $2,000 in its account through other fundraisers.

The club intends to “add on to the many opportunities for students to develop and expand their interests, talents, and services to the school and community.”

Several goals include developing leadership skills, responsibility, self-discipline, as well as enhancing students’ self-esteem.

Students will also gain awareness and an appreciation of beauty, elegance, and sophistication as well as develop awareness about the pageant industry and the potential for modeling in the future.

For more information or to contribute to the fundraisers, contact Cunanan at 234-9227 or Emy Camacho at 234-6184.