According to local weather reports, they weren’t expecting to snow as early and heavily as it did.
“It looks like I have to buy a thicker coat,” laughs the eighteen year-old beauty queen, who is competing for the first time on one of the world’s most prestigious stages.
“We have already visited the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. It was an amazing experience,” said Maratita.
“We also were given the opportunity to see the popular birds nest as well. We attended an educational forum and had a day of shopping. Soon, we will be all flying to Chengdu. Miss Philippines Melody Gersbach and I are roommates and we are having so much fun,” she said.
Maratita is joining 70 other contestants from all over the world to compete in the 2009 Miss International Pageant organized by the International Cultural Association headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
This is only the second time the pageant has been held in China and next Saturday, the final competition will take place in the city of Chengdu.
The young beauty queen has taken handcrafted tangangang seeds leis graciously donated by the office of Tinian Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas to pass as a souvenir from the Northern Marianas.
“We would also like to thank Mr. David M. Sablan and Century Insurance in assisting with obtaining a Chinese visa for Sorene. We truly appreciate it,” said Stellar Marianas National Director Jennifer White-Aguon.
“Sorene will also present paintings portraying the islands’ beautiful scenery and culture by local painter Gregg Elliot and a doll dressed in island wear as National Gifts. The doll will be donated to an orphanage as part of the pageant’s tradition,” said White-Aguon.
Maratita will also participate in a parade in the city of Chengdu, which will feature the contestants wearing their national costumes and promoting their countries.
“Sorene has two National Costumes. Since the parade is outdoors and will be quite cold, she will be wearing her ocean blue Mestisa gown with flowers and a beaded head piece—the one she wore for our pageant here. For competition, she will be wearing her Pandanus leaf skirt and top set and a mwar mwar, representing the lush green beauty of our islands,” said White-Aguon.
The 2009 Miss International Pageant will have a National Costume, Swimsuit, Evening Gown, and Question and Answer competition.
For more information on the international pageant, log on to www.miss-international.org.
