2008 Miss Marianas Teen Ariel St. Clair spent her summer months as a mermaid aboard Pacific Subsea, Inc.’s “Deepstar” Submarine helping to promote the CNMI to the hundreds of visitors that she had met.
“I really enjoyed it. I talked with our tourists and they asked me so many questions and took pictures with me. The children would run and sit on my lap the whole time. It was a lot of fun,” smiled St. Clair.
Now, the 17 year-old queen is in Weihai, China about to start her studies at the local university there and teach English as a second language to elementary students.
“Over the last year I’ve taken on extra courses and have completed my high school diploma a year early. This past summer I also completed my Teach English as a Foreign Language certificate, which certifies me as an ESL teacher,” said St. Clair.
“I will be teaching first and second grade students as well as attending one of the universities. I plan to use this experience to help work towards a degree in Psychology,” she said.
“I love the fact that not only would I be experiencing a new country and culture, but also that I will be working with younger kids and starting to go to college,” she added.
St. Clair’s participation in the Miss Teen International Pageant in Chicago last year and her continued local community work drew national attention and she was invited by another international pageant to participate.
Miss Teen World (see related story below) asked St. Clair to compete this year.
“We are so proud of Ariel and how she carried her reign as an active community volunteer. She served as a positive role model and continues to reach for her goals. We wish her the very best in her future endeavors,” said Stellar Marianas president Laila Y. Boyer.
The young queen advises her peers that, “Your life is how make it… the choices you make are your own. Be responsible. If you have big goals and dreams, follow them and if you really want it, it will happen.”
“I would like to thank Stellar Marianas, the wonderful staff and children at Division of Youth Services’ shelter, Joanne Aquino and Little Darlings Day Care Center, my parents, Gus and Katherine, for making my reign really fun and memorable,” she smiled.
