Stellar Marianas takes over from NMBPA

Stellar Marianas has succeeded the Northern Marianas Beauty Pageant Association as the organizer of beauty pageants in the islands.

The new non-profit organization took over starting yesterday and has promised to spruce up beauty contests in the Commonwealth, which have been dormant for the past three years.

Stellar Marianas stands for “Sharing Talent, Empowerment, Learning, Leadership, and Radiance in the Marianas.”

In a media briefing held yesterday at the Hard Rock Café, Stellar Marianas public relations officer L.J. Castro said the group recently elected a board of directors and began recruiting a base of volunteers to highlight its mission of culture and education throughout the islands.

President Laila Y. Boyer said it is about time beauty pageant organizations take a new face and a new mission. She said the new group’s core platform is based on education, providing more scholarships, and more educational community events.

Boyer said with the new core group members, the public is assured that with their combined efforts they would be able to provide exciting and worthwhile projects and events for the community.

She said Stellar will promote the beauty, intelligence, courage, and compassion of young women.

Boyer said the CNMI has two valuable resources it can truly be proud of—the environment and its people.

“Beauty pageants have evolved to active staging campaigns all over the world,” said Boyer. She said even organizers behind the Miss Universe pageant have also changed their mission, focusing instead on the global awareness of women in the world.

The group is now preparing for two major beauty pageants: Little Miss Marianas and the Miss Marianas Universe 2006. The two are just among a handful of events Stellar has lined up for the year.

Little Miss Marianas 2005 is tentatively slated on June 25 this year, and according to former Miss CNMI International Jenny White-Aguon, the pageant is open to all young girls with ages ranging from seven to nine. White-Aguon said they would start their recruitment this week.

Miss Marianas Universe is expected to take place in August. Though the 2005 Miss Universe competition is this month, Boyer said the winner would be participating for next year’s contest.

She said in this way, the reigning queen would have more time to study, prepare, and condition herself to represent the Commonwealth well. The contest will also crown Miss Marianas International, said Boyer.

White-Aguon said the Miss Marianas Universe pageant is open to vibrant and young single women, 18 to 25 years old, who have never been married and “definitely have no children.”

Boyer said, Stellar would still keep the past beauty titleholders, and in this regard, she is also calling the former beauty queens to contact them as soon as possible.

She said they have planned activities to honor these beauties throughout the 29 years of the CNMI’s participation in beauty contests.

Other Stellar Marianas board of directors includes Esther Milne, vice president; Michelle Lin, treasure; Marites Acosta-Yumul, secretary; Jennifer Aguon, national director; and advisors, Clyde Lemons, Joe Taijeron, Roxanne Diaz, and former Miss CNMI Universe Cherlyn Cabrera.

For more information on Stellar and its planned beauty pageants, contact L.J. Castro at 664-3975.