FOR 2021 Miss Marianas Savannah Lyn Delos Santos, who describes herself as a “huge advocate for the voiceless,” International Women’s Day, March 8, symbolizes progress.
Delos Santos represented the CNMI in the 60th Miss International Beauty Pageant in Tokyo, Japan where she made history as the first contestant from the Northern Marianas to reach the top 15.
“In the past, women’s voices weren’t represented enough. Now, more women’s voices are heard. We continue to progress. It’s beautiful to witness,” she said.
An advocate of women who are victims of domestic violence, Delos Santos is the sexual assault response team manager of the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence.
She also served as the human trafficking case manager and outreach specialist of Karidat Social Services.
“My career journey has been quite an adventure,” she said. “I’m proud to say I have a diverse portfolio of experiences. I’ve always been a risk-taker and opportunity-seeker. My secret to success is saying ‘Yes!’ when opportunities come knocking.”
She was only 15 when she started her own business. “I planned and hosted boat cruises for teens,” she said.
She has also been a barista, a grants management and development intern, a customer service representative, a print model, a runway model and a marketing and promotions assistant to name a few.
“I hope to go to law school in the future to advocate for victims and survivors of violence,” she said. “My dreams also include being a best-selling author, owning a women-only gym, diving deep into the fashion industry, and opening a school.”
As for the challenges she has faced, Delos Santos said, “They are too many: emotionally, mentally, financially, physically, etc. The challenges never stop. However, I continue to build mental fortitude.”
She said she herself has witnessed domestic violence at a very young age.
“It was rough, and we were poor,” she said, adding that a college education seemed to be out of reach for her family.
But she obtained scholarship grants and found work while she was a college student in Hawaii.
“For most of my college life, I was a full-time student and full-time employee. I went to school taking seven to nine classes per semester while simultaneously working 70-80 hours a week. It was insane, and I don’t know how I did it.”
In 2019, she graduated cum laude from Chaminade University with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration-marketing.
She also had to cope with medical challenges, “but I’m okay for now — being a positive person has helped me,” she said.
“I’m extremely grateful for every day God has given me,” she added. Every day, good or bad, is an incredible blessing for me.”
Her mother’s guidance
Delos Santos said her biggest influence is her mother.
“She is awesome. She’s taught me so much about resilience, mental fortitude, unconditional love and genuine kindness. She motivates me to be better every day. I don’t know anyone who works harder than her,” she said.
Delos Santos said she is also fortunate to know many other amazing women.
“I look up to every woman because every woman is unique and beautiful in their own way. I admire all women,” she added.
Embracing equality
For Delos Santos, God created men and women to have different capabilities.
“If we were meant to do the same things, then there would have been one gender only. I also believe that many of our capabilities as man or woman intersect,” she said.
She encourages men to also advocate for equality whenever they can.
She said for a woman to succeed in a male-dominated environment, a woman should “be herself.”
She encourages all women to love themselves. “Take up space. Be a voice for the voiceless. Be unapologetically yourself. Keep rocking on!”
In December 2022, Delos Santos was honored by a legislative resolution unanimously adopted by the CNMI Senate.
“It is truly such an honor. I must give my biggest thanks to my friend and fellow sister Queen, 2016 Miss Marianas Peachy Quitugua and her father, former Sen. Vinnie Sablan. They take all the credit for this incredible honor. I look at the laminated copy of the Senate resolution hanging in my home every day and remind myself that this is only the beginning. There is so much more work to be done. I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. I still have so much heart to give.”
Miss Marianas Savannah Delos Santos poses for a photo during the 60th Miss International Pageant in Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 2022.
