The preliminary competition starts tomorrow and the final pageant night will be held this Saturday at the Northshore Center for the Performing Arts in Chicago, Illinois.
“I am extremely excited to be here and I will do my very best to represent the CNMI,” said St. Clair.
The young queen is in Chicago with her mom, Katherine Wheeler who has been assisting in her preparation for the pageant.
“I am really enjoying the time here. Everyone is very nice. We visited Navy Peer yesterday and rode a speed boat called the Sea Dog. We saw the skyline of Chicago. It was really beautiful,” said St Clair.
“We volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club in Chicago and we hung out with the kids, playing basketball, dodge ball, board games, and working on some arts and crafts. We took pictures and signed autographs. Then, we had rehearsal for four hours and after that a dinner party with all the other 43 contestants,” she said.
St. Clair was also featured in her former hometown newspaper, The Odessa Record, in Odessa, Washington.
According to the Miss Teen International’s website, the pageant was developed to promote today’s young women, ages 13 – 18, and their accomplishments.
“The event will give each contestant the opportunity to learn about customs and family life in other countries along with the chance to share her beliefs and make plenty of new friends during the entire week of activities leading up to two exciting nights of competition. Prizes and scholarships will be awarded to the winning contestant,” it says.
There are four categories in the competition, Interview Competition valued at 40% of their total score, Evening Gown valued for 20%, Fitness Wear for 20%, and Fun Fashion Wear at 20%.
St. Clair is competing with 43 other contestants from all over the U.S., England and India.
Each contestant selects her own platform that she will spend the year promoting as Miss Teen International.
St Clair’s platform is to help prevent child abuse and neglect and has started community projects, such as fundraising for Empty Vessels, a non-profit group assisting displaced children in Africa, the DYS Emergency Shelter Mural and reading programs at the Little Darlings Day Care Center.
“Ariel has worked hard for this moment and we are all proud of her. We would like to thank our sponsors and the community for their support, once again, as we shed a positive light on the CNMI,” said Stellar Marianas National Director Neda Camacho.
The deadline to vote for St. Clair as your favorite contestant is this Saturday at www.missteeninternational.us.
Stellar Marianas, the islands’ non-profit pageant and talent group is currently recruiting 17 to 25 year-old contestants for the 2009 Miss Universe Pageant. For more information, please contact Laila Boyer at 888-1609.
