Be one of 12 Miss Teen Marianas contestants

It’s more than just a beauty tilt; it is an opportunity for young women to help support charitable causes of their choice.

Camacho

This year’s edition of Miss Teen Marianas will feature 12 candidates whose purpose-driven lives will be thrust into the limelight. Joining the Miss Teen Marianas competition will allow them to generate more support for the charities they hold dear.

Winning Miss Teen Marianas is truly a life-changing event. Reigning Miss Teen Marianas Gianna Camacho attests to that, blossoming into a more mature, confident young Chamorro woman.

“Overall, I have loved being Miss Teen Marianas. I never regretted joining the pageant even once. I originally joined just to have fun and improve my public speaking skills but I got so much more out of it. By joining the pageant I was able to meet so many other girls from Saipan and all over America (during my time in Jacksonville) who share my interest in improving today’s youth and being a positive role model for future teens to follow. I really feel like the people I met in Jacksonville will hold a special place in my heart and memory,” said Camacho.

“Being Miss Teen has changed my life in so many ways. During my time as Miss Teen, I did a lot of community events. I visited schools and the hospital to donate books and it was really a rewarding experience knowing that I could bring happiness to kids, even if it was just for the day,” said Camacho, who bested 15 other equally deserving candidates for the crown in 2014.

Camacho represented the Northern Marianas in the 2015 Miss Teen International held in Jacksonville, Florida last July.

For Camacho, the work doesn’t stop when her reign ends.

“To further give back and continue improving the lives of children, I applied, and was accepted into an international volunteer association in Argentina where I will be working with children aged 1-6 this January. I believe that if I wasn’t for Miss Teen I wouldn’t have been able to find my passion and love for different cultures, languages, and children and my volunteering experience in Argentina would not be possible,” she said.

Her advice to her successor and candidates of Miss Teen Marianas? “Always have an open mind, be dedicated to your running time, and most importantly have fun! Don’t get blindsided by the crown; the journey to the crown is half of the fun!”

Stellar Marianas president Laila Boyer said, “We are so proud of Gianna and extend our deepest appreciation to her and her family for representing as our islands so well as teen ambassador to the world.”

“We are inviting our young women to participate in this exciting opportunity and help our community shine in a positive way. It is a fun, valuable experience and we encourage our young women to take this chance and discover where this opportunity could take them,” she said.

Those who would like to follow Camacho’s footsteps have until Oct. 9 to file their applications. This year’s pageant is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 12 and proceeds will go to continuing disaster relief efforts for families in need.

To register and for more information, visit Pena House Boutique or email stellarqueens@gmail.com.

Only 12 candidates will vie for the prestigious crown. Hurry and register! (Stellar Marianas)