- Miss Marianas Universe
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Miss Marianas Universe is the national pageant of the Northern Marianas that sends representatives to the Miss Universe and Miss International pageants. It is organized by the non-profit beauty and talent group Stellar Marianas.
The current Miss Marianas Universe is Sorene Maratita of Kagman, Saipan, who won the title at the Palms Resort Saipan on November 29, 2008. The first runner-up was Winona Chance Camacho who is also from Saipan. Sorene also took home the Miss Photogenic and Best in Native Costume award. Due to a lack of funding and sponsorship, she was unable to compete at Miss Universe 2009 in the Bahamas. However, Sorene competed at Miss International. She was handed the title by MMU 2005 Shequita DLG. Bennett-Sanchez because of the three-year absence of a titleholder, respectively.
Winners
Year Contestant Village Represented Placement 1976 Candelaria Flores Borja As Teo 1977 Margarita Benavente Camacho San Vicente 1978 Julia Salas Concepcion Chalan Kanoa Dist.#1 1979 Barbara Torres Chalan Kanoa Dist #3 1980 Angelina Camacho Chong Garapan 1981 Juanita Masga Mendiola Tinian Did not compete 1982 Sheryl Sonoda Sizemore Chalan Kanoa Dist #1 1983 Thelma Mafnas Sadog Tasi 1984 Porsche Salas Chalan Kanoa Dist#4 1985 Antoinette Marie Flores Susupe 1986 Christine Guerrero Capitol Hill 1987 Luciana Seman Ada Fina Sisu 1988 Ruby Jean Hamilton Gualo Rai 1989 Teresa Wamar San Antonio Did not compete 1990 Edwina Taitano Menzies Tinian 1991 Sharon Rosario Chalan Lau Lau 1992 Imelda Antonio Puerto Rico 1993 Victoria Taisakan Tudela San Jose 1994 Elizabeth Tomokane Gualo Rai 1995 Karah Kirschenheiter Capitol Hill 1996 Kathleen Williams Garapan won all categories but won miss intl. 1997 Melanie Sibetang Oleai 1998 Helene Yun Lizama Dan Dan 1999 Cherlyn Cabrera Chalan Kanoa Dist#1 2001 Janet Han King Tinian 2002 Virginia Ann Gridley Chalan Kanoa 2003 Kimberly Castro Reyes Gualo Rai Did not compete 2004 Tracy Lynn Del Rosario Koblerville Did not compete 2006 Shequita Deleon Guerrero Bennett Kagman 2009 Sorene Aldan Maratita Kagman Did not compete NOTES:
- In 1981, the newly crowned queen, Juanita Masga Mendiola relinquished her title to further education. Her successor is unknown as of this time.
- In 1989, newly crowned queen Soreen Villanueva was dethroned for reasons undisclosed, and eventually was succeeded by Teresa Wamar who competed at the Miss International Pageant.
- For the competing years 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2008 no pageant was held.
- In 2003, Kimberly Castro Reyes was crowned Miss Marianas Universe of that year. Eventually however, she was unable to compete at the national competition in Panama City, Panama that year due to a miscommunication between the pageant's then-organization The Northern Marianas Beauty Pageant Association (NMBPA) and Miss Universe. Outrage and protest had resulted from this by the community and the winning contestant's family and friends. Instead, she was eventually sent to compete at Miss World 2003 in Sanya, the People's Republic of China.
- In 2004, Tracy Del Rosario was crowned Miss Marianas World for that year. It was the only time since the U.S. territory's pageant participation, that a winner of the pageant would be crowned a different title other than Miss Marianas Universe. The year before, crowned Miss Marianas Universe-winner Reyes had been expected to compete at its national pageant but was instead sent to Miss World. This was the last year the NMBPA held the pageant license for its competing territory. They disbanded quickly after the year's pageant.
- Since 2005, a new non-profit pageant and talent organization Stellar Marianas currently directs and holds the license to the Miss Marianas Universe.
- Sorene Maratita, Miss Marianas Universe 2009, did not compete in Miss Universe 2009 due to lack of sponsorship and funding. She will only compete in Miss International.
Categories:- Beauty pageants
- Beauty pageants in the Northern Mariana Islands
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