By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

REIGNING Little Miss Marianas Opal Northen is back on island after some exciting experiences on her trip to the U.S. where she promoted the CNMI.
Her mother, Ruby Northen, said her daughter appeared at events where they had the chance to tell people they met all about the Northern Marianas.
In Kentucky, Opal Northen met Todd Wilkerson, president of Brewco Motors Inc., whose race cars participate in the Nascar series.
Shel had her picture taken with Wilkerson and the Number 27 Ford that raced in the Daytona 500 last week and was driven by Ward Burton.
Nascar is considered the Number 1 spectator sport in the U.S. with about 90 million viewers.
Opal Northen had on her crown and sash when she made a goodwill call just days after the Brewco team returned from Florida.
She also met with some students in Kentucky and shared information about the islands with them.
The Kentucky students, according to Ruby Northern, were excited to meet a young beauty queen all the way from the Pacific islands and had plenty of questions for her daughter.
Opal Northern also visited the Owensboro Medical Health System and met the elderly patients in the knee/hip replacement ward.
She and her sister, Ashley, also spent some time swimming with the Kentucky Mercy Marlins Swimming Team.
The sisters recently participated in annual Ocean Swim competition, the X-Terra race and the Taga Kids competition.
Opal also traveled to Hawaii where she also promoted the CNMI.
On Friday, she was among the guests at the talent night competition for the Miss Teen Marianas pageant.
Coronation night will take place this Saturday at the Hotel Nikko.
Opal said she is taking dance lessons in preparation for a number she will perform for the Miss Teen Marianas coronation night.
In the celebration of Reading Awareness Month at public schools, she is scheduled to join students in their reading activities.