Shequita is 2005 Miss Marianas Universe

Eighteen-year-old Shequita L. Bennett is the 2005 Miss Marianas Universe after winning the hearts and minds of judges with her beauty, wit, and confidence during the pageant’s coronation Saturday night at the World Resort Saipan.

Bennett clinched the tiara when she gamely answered host Chris Nelson’s question “What should a young woman in the CNMI strive for?” by saying that she would settle for nothing less than to become the first female governor of the islands.

She further got the crowd up on their feet and cheering for her when she ended her statement by saying, in a matter of fact way, that women have more people skills than men.

Bennett is the daughter of Board of Education teacher representative and Kagman High School teacher Ambrose Bennett.

The young lass broke into tears when her name was proclaimed as this year’s titleholder. She immediately dedicated her triumph to both her parents, especially to her mother.

“She’s been there for everything,” she said, adding that she would hug her mother tightly after the pageant. Her dad said he was speechless after her daughter won but showed the media a pin on his coat that said “Dad” and he was indeed one proud father Saturday night.

Aside from taking home the Miss Marianas Universe crown, Bennett also almost swept the special awards. She bested five other equally deserving candidates for the Leadership award, National Costume award, Photogenic, Swimsuit and Eveningwear. She said all those awards were pleasant surprises for her and she thanked her designer and mentor Irwin Jamisola and the people of Genoveva’s Salon for her victory.

First runner-up of the competition went to crowd favorite Maile Rae B. San Nicolas, who was asked “If she were to pass a bill into law what would be the bill and why?”

She said she would start a girls and boys club in the CNMI, an organization to improve the status of the local youth for them to start a good relationship with the community. She also won the Achievement award.

Miss Talent went to Michelle Jose. Mary Louise Deleon Guerrero bagged the Miss Empowerment special award, while the Learning award went to Almadine Dela Cruz Taitano. The Radiance award went to Lucille Rita Hocog.

San Nicolas and Jose shared the Miss Congeniality award. Jose also won the Stellar Award, which was given to the candidate who attended all the Stellar Marianas functions for the past two months.

Her confidence in answering the question notwithstanding, Bennett said she did not expect to win at all during a media briefing following the coronation.

“I’m just here to have fun and I can’t believe I did it.” When asked about the most challenging portion of the pageant, Bennett said the question and answer segment was, hands down, the hardest.

Bennett will represent the CNMI in the 2006 Miss Universe to be held in China and the 2006 Miss International in Japan. Among Bennett’s prizes are a crown, trophy, sash, flowers, scholarship worth $1,000, $1,000 cash prize, a 24-karat white gold, handcrafted Miss Marianas Universe 2005 gold chain and pendant. She also received an all-expense paid travel opportunity to compete in the international pageants courtesy of Northwest Airlines.

Panel of judges last Saturday were Northwest Airlines general manager for Guam Richard Parson, Theresa Kim, Eric Plinske, Antonia Blanco and Ruby Hamilton. Official tabulator for the pageant was NMC Director of Finance and Procurement Raaj Kuripati.

Former Miss CNMI International 1998 Sonya Pangelinan-Danco co-hosted the event held in the Diamond Hall of the Susupe hotel.