SIXTEEN-year-old Gina Tanya T. Duenas was crowned the 2002 Miss Teen CNMI on Saturday.
Duenas, a Kagman High School student, also won the Miss Photogenic and Best National Costume awards. (See related photos)
“Community involvement,” according to Duenas during the question and answer portion, will help strengthen the CNMI’s tourism-based economy.
The 2002 Miss Teen CNMI 1st Runner Up is 15-year-old Merced V. Villagomez of Mount Carmel School.
Villagomez also won the Best Talent award with her rendition of Maya Angelou’s poem, “Phenomenal Woman.”
“I’m glad I’ve gone this far. I encourage other girls to join (the pageant),” Villagomez said.
About 400 students, young adults, parents, relatives and guests attended the event, held at Saipan Nikko Hotel’s Theatre Hall on Saturday night.
The Miss Teen CNMI Beauty Pageant, sponsored this year by the Natibu Club, aims to give deserving students up to $1,000 in scholarship funds.
Jadine Victoria A. Hockett, a 15-year-old student of Marianas High School, won the Miss Congeniality and Best Sportswear awards.
The two other contestants, Yerma B. Roberto, a 15-year-old student of Mount Carmel School, and 15-year-old Naniolyn O. Dillay also did their best during the competition.
During the question and answer portion, Dillay said she wanted to become a doctor to help the community. Roberto said the preservation of local culture “rests on practicing traditions and speaking the local language.”
Doreen Tudela, principal of Kagman High School, said the pageant is not affiliated with the annual Miss Teen USA.
“This is for fund-raising for scholarship. It aims to give scholarship money to deserving students,” Tudela said.
Event organizers also showed video footage of the 1995 and 1997 Miss Teen CNMI beauty pageants.
The first Miss Teen CNMI beauty pageant was held in 1991. The succeeding events took place in 1993, 1995, 1997 and this year.
Former and current beauty titlists in the CNMI also showed up at the pageant. They included 2002 Miss CNMI Universe Virginia Ling Gridley, 2002 Miss CNMI International Christine Juwelle D. Cunanan, 1995 Miss Teen CNMI Cecile T. Celes who is now the governor’s press secretary, and 1991 Miss Teen CNMI 1st Runner Up Marianne C. Teregeyo, the special assistant for correspondence of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources.
