One of the 12 contestants, Kamille San Nicolas, is from Rota.
“A lot of people want to know where Rota is,” said Jam Rodriguez, principal sponsor of San Nicolas and vice president of International Professional Event Management.
Rodriquez, who used to work on Rota, said the pageant will help promote the island to the world.
He said in a phone interview that people are very excited to know more about “that tiny island in the Pacific.”
Since the organizers initiated the pageant in 1990, it is the first time that a candidate from the CNMI is participating, he said.
“She’s very pretty, very talented and a good speaker,” Rodriguez said, referring to San Nicolas, the daughter of Timothy and Adelia San Nicolas of Rota.
Edgar Sulit, president of International Professional Event Management, has been working in the beauty pageant industry for almost two decades.
He told Variety they are planning to hold Miss Philippines World after their successful Miss Philippines Canada and, now, Miss Philippines North America.
“We’ve been getting more applicants,” he said in a phone interview.
Candidates should be of Filipino descent between the ages of 16 and 27. They must have a pleasing personality, of good moral character and in good standing in their community.
Sulit said their goal is to recognize the beauty, talent and academic excellence of the candidates.
Of the 12 candidates in the Miss Philippines North America pageant, five will be selected for the finals.
The pageant winner will be chosen among the five.
The criteria include swimsuit, evening gown, personal interview and “over-all impression.”
The pageant will be held at the George Ignattief Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Sept. 18 and 19.
Kamille San Nicolas’ mother is urging CNMI residents to vote for her by going to www.myipen.com and clicking “Miss Philippines North America.”
Kamille San Nicolas, who will graduate this year, is studying business administration and majoring in accounting in Oregon.
