Savannah Delos Santos is Miss Marianas 2021

SAVANNAH Lyn Relox Delos Santos was crowned Miss Marianas 2021 as part of the Women’s Month “celebration of beauty and the Marianas” at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.

An aspiring accountant who graduated cum laude from Chaminade University, 23-year-old Delos Santos of Garapan was also named Miss Friendship, Best in Evening Gown and Best in National Costume.

She portrayed the guardian goddess of the Marianas Trench emerging from the deep “to create and protect the island chain of the Marianas and its people.”

In the final Q&A portion, she was asked how she would paint the Marianas.

Blue, white and green, she replied.

Blue because it represents the ocean “that surrounds us and keeps us safe”; white, because it represents the Commonwealth flower, plumeria; and green, because “we are surrounded by so much greenery that gives us so much life.”

Raised by a single mom who is a survivor of domestic violence, Delos Santos said joining the Miss Marianas beauty pageant was “really fun.”

The biggest challenge she faced in joining the contest was “not believing in myself in the beginning — but then, as the months flew by, the girls really encouraged me…. I think it was kind of intimidating at times, but overall it was amazing.”

Now that she wears the crown, Delos Santos said she is excited about the programs and events that lie ahead. “I have so many great ideas that I really want to implement. So…I am hoping we’ll really have good year,” she added.

She said she is also grateful to the people who were very supportive, and who believed in her.

“I am very excited and very overwhelmed — I’m just so grateful right now,” she added.

Santos succeeds 2019 Miss Marianas Shannon Sasamoto whose reign was extended in 2020 because the pageant for that year had to be canceled amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Photogenic

The first runner-up who also won the Miss Photogenic Award is 20-year-old Bernadette Horey of As Matuis, a freshman at Northern Marianas College.

To paint the Marianas, Horey would use blue to represent “our beautiful ocean where I love to spend time and relief”; green, for “our beautiful lush hills where I love to sit and spend time with my dog, who is my baby”; and red, “for the vibrant flame trees that are seasonal but very beautiful and magical, and have a special place in my heart.”

Second runner-up is 22-year-old Ha’Ane Marie San Nicolas Eugenio, a graduate of Northern Marianas College. She said she would paint the Marianas “blue, for the beautiful blue ocean, green for the lush green fauna and flora, and yellow for the beautiful sunset that we have.”

Winning the People’s Choice Award is Toremy De Ette Ayuyu Diaz, 19, a liberal science student at NMC who works as barista at Cha Café in Garapan.

The Stellar Star Award went to 26-year-old Vincent Rabasto for displaying enthusiasm, commitment and dedication as a contestant. She attended all the Stellar Marianas activities and rehearsals “with a smile,” and worked hard while having a lot of fun.

Rabasto also won the TRESemmé Special Award sponsored by D&Q International Distributors, as she always “made wonderful use of TRESemme’ quality salon products.”

Nineteen-year-old Richelle Tsunami Ramon, a coral reef restoration intern and a liberal arts student at NMC, won the Best in Swimwear Award.

The other 2021 Miss Marianas candidates are Lily Dior Carillo, a nursing student at NMC, and Naomi Reen Lizama who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in American Ethnic Studies at University of Washington.

Very worthy

This year’s pageant was another “celebration of beauty and the Marianas,” Stellar Marianas president Michelle Sablan said.

The pageant also highlighted women empowerment as the CNMI observes Women’s Month, she added. “And these eight lovely ladies were very worthy tonight,” Sablan said.

As for the new Miss Marianas, Sablan said: “She represents so many of us, and she spoke so passionately.”

Sablan said the annual beauty pageant “has come a long way” since it was first held 45 years ago.

“We are absolutely elated and so fortunate that we are able to have this pageant tonight, again, and to crown our 2021 Miss Marianas,” she added.

Amid the pandemic, she said, “we must go on living — we need to give hope to our people and our islands.”

For her part, first lady Dianne Torres, who was one of the pageant judges, said the event was successful. “And we all followed the safety protocols,” she added.

The contestants’ presentations in the presence of their parents were amazing, Mrs. Torres said. “We do have young women willing to go out and work for the community.”

The other judges were 2018 Miss Marianas Peachy Quitugua, Crispin “Ping” Deleon Guerrero Jr. of the Public School System-Personal Responsibility Education Program, Tan Siu Lin executive director Merlie Tolentino, and Triple J marketing manager Maria Valentina Haberman.

Miss Marianas 2021 Savannah Lyn Relox Delos Santos, third right, first runner up Bernadette Horey, second right, second runner up Ha’ Ane Eugenio, fourth right, and the other contestants: Naomi Reen Borja Lizama, Lily Dior Carillo, Vincent Rinnelle Licop Rabasto, Toremy De Ette Ayuyu Diaz and Richelle Tsunami Ramon.

Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano