2024 Liberation Day Queen candidates named

The 2024 Liberation Day Committee has named Nakisha Celis, Chariane Dabney, and Xeayda Manglona as the candidates for this year’s Liberation Day Queen and Royal Court competition.

Celis, Dabney, and Manglona were presented to the public at the Saipan Mayor’s Office last Friday.

Celis, 17, is a resident of Saipan and student at the Saipan Southern High School.

“I want to be able to experience it as it’s my first time. I also want to get out of my comfort zone. Knowing that there’s only three of us, I also want to encourage others to join.”

She shared that through the experience she’d like to also get other young people interested and excited to join the Liberation Day Royal Court and help the community in any way they can.

An early graduate of Kagman High School, Dabney expressed not only her excitement to be part of the Class of 2024, but to also be a part of the Liberation Day Queen and Royal Court competition.

“Joining the Liberation Day Queen tilt, I really thought it would be a great experience for the future, knowing that I am interested in participating in the Miss CNMI or Miss Marianas one day.” Her message: show kindness.

For 19-year-old Manglona, she just wants to represent her hometown.

“I’m a proud daughter of the island of Luta. For me, it’s really all about representing my island. I’m the only candidate representing Rota right now and it’s kind of sad to see. I know a lot of the younger generation back home, they think we can’t really participate or do the same as like Saipan or Guam, just because we’re such a small island and our opportunities are more limited. I really want to change that stigma and take it one step at a time, especially through this competition.”

Manglona, who currently is a University of Guam student, wants to encourage other young people from Rota that if they want to do something, they can do it, despite what others may say or the challenges that may stand in the way.

Current titleholder, 2019 Liberation Day Queen Pernalynn Borja Camacho, is happy that the Liberation Day Queen and Royal Court competition is back after a five-year hiatus.

“I am very excited that we got to re-open royal court after five years. The last Liberation Day Royal Court was in 2019, so we are glad to open up the opportunity for you guys to be able to experience what I was able to experience.”

Liberation Day Committee board member and parade coordinator Priscilla Iakopo shared that after a long break she was excited to see the tradition resume.

“We are very excited that not only do we have candidates from the island of Saipan, but we also have from the island of Luta. Hopefully next year we will have all the islands join in.”

Candidates will begin fundraising and the candidate who sells the most tickets will be the crowned the 2024 Liberation Day Queen.

Iakopo shared that as per tradition, candidates will be able to keep a 10th of the funds raised for the Liberation Day festivities, but 90% although turned over to the organizing committee, indirectly still goes toward the candidates. She shared that even after the festivities, the Liberation Day queen will be involved in many community events and even travel opportunities to join Guam’s Liberation Day Parade and the Nippon Damannaka Festival in Japan.