An appreciation of beauty and talent
The community’s high regard for beauty and talent is growing.
Yesterday, the Commonwealth’s most beautiful ladies received yet another recognition, this time from the Seventh Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council.
The Council handed out plaques of recognition to the winners of this year’s Miss CNMI beauty contest, as well as to the persons behind this year’s successful program – the Northern Marianas Beauty Pageant Association.
Council Chair Gregorio Deleon Guerrero, Vice Chair David A. Indalecio, and Secretary Alexander P. Sablan congratulated beauty titlists Virginia Gridley, 2002 Miss CNMI-Universe; Christine Juwelle Cunanan, 2002 Miss CNMI-International; and Shara Dela Cruz, 2002 Miss CNMI first runner up.
The council officials also congratulated and recognized the efforts put in by NMBPA officers and staffs, led by Jonas Barcinas, for a successful pageant and coronation night.
Also recognized were other 2002 Miss CNMI candidates Katrina Cabrera, Ladonna Lynn Castro, Kristina Diaz, Anna Marie Manibusan, and Loni M. Perry.
Council officials also recognized the coronation night judges.
“The Council and the people of the CNMI extends a sincere and heartfelt appreciation to the officers of the NMBPA, the distinguished panel of judges, and the support personnel for their outstanding performance in the 2002 Miss CNMI-Universe held at the Dai-Ichi Hotel last March,” the Council said.
“The Council and the people of the CNMI are extremely proud of the 2002 Miss Northern Marianas Universe Queen and wish her the best in her role as ambassador of the CNMI,” the resolution presented to Gridley stated.
Gridley, who will be representing the CNMI to the Miss Universe 2002 Beauty Pageant in Puerto Rico next month, is daughter of Roger and Hermana Ling Gridley. She completed her BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Central Florida.
Cunanan, on the other hand, also received a commemorative resolution from the Council for winning the Miss CNMI-International 2002 crown.
Cunanan, a graduate of BA in Psychology with a certificate in Legal Studies from the University of San Francisco, will be representing the Northern Marianas to the 2002 Miss International Pageant in Japan later this year.
Cunanan, a proud daughter of Wilson and Julieta Cunanan, is currently a public service intern at the CNMI Attorney General’s Office. (PHOTOS AND TEXTS BY EDITH G. ALEJANDRO)
