Miss Marianas is the national Beauty pageant in Northern Marianas.
History In 2003, the NMBPA sent the winner to Miss World. The runner-up of Miss Marianas has traditionally competed at the Miss International pageant.
In 2015, Miss Marianas will return in new concept from Stellar Marianas Group and will select the winners in 2015 early.
In 2015, Jian Joyner, a sophomore majoring in liberal arts at Northern Marianas College and a tutor at Salty Saipan Corporation was crowned as Miss Marianas during the pageant at the Hyatt's SandCastle on Thursday night where she also won the Stellar Star Best in National Costume and Best in Swimsuit awards. According to Marianas Variety, part of Joyner's prize is an all-expense-paid trip to compete in the Miss International 2015 Pageant from Delta Air Lines and the Marianas Visitors Authority.
Titleholders YearMiss MarianasRepresentedNotes 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 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 Capital Hill 1987 Luciana Seman Ada Fina Sisu 1988 Ruby Jean Hamilton Gualo Rai 1989 Teresa Wamar San Antonio 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 Capital Hill 1996 Kathleen Williams Garapan 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 2004 Tracy Lynn Del Rosario Koblerville Did not compete 2006 Shequita Deleon Guerrero Bennett Kagman 2009 Sorene Maratita Kagman 2015 Jian Joyner Saipan 2016 Peachy Quitugua Saipan 2018 Celine Concepcion Cabrera Saipan 2019 Shannon Tudela Sasamoto Saipan 2021 Savannah Lyn Delos Santos Saipan
Titleholders under Miss Marianas org. Miss Marianas International
Year Miss Northern Marianas Represented Placement at Miss International Special Award(s) 1983 Margarita Tenorio Benavente Saipan Unplaced 1984 Mary Celeste Sasakura Mendiola Saipan Unplaced 1985 Antoinette Marie Flores Susupe Unplaced 1986 Lisa Aquiningoc Manglona Saipan Unplaced 1987 Luciana Seman Ada Fina Sisu Unplaced 1988 Gloria Patricia Propst Saipan Unplaced 1989 Teresa Wamar San Antonio Unplaced 1990 Edwina Taitano Menzies Tinian Unplaced Miss Friendship 1991 Christina Rasa Salas Saipan Unplaced 1992 Christina Vincoy Borja Saipan Unplaced 1993 Tayna Castro Belyeu Saipan Unplaced Miss Friendship 1994 Mary Michelle Manibusan Gualo Rai Unplaced 1995 Elaine Tudela Gualo Rai Unplaced 1996 Kathleen Williams Garapan Unplaced Miss Friendship 1997 Maria Theresa "Marites" Acosta Saipan Unplaced 1998 Sonya Palacios Pangelinan Dan Dan Unplaced 1999 Miyuki Coretta Hill Okinawa Unplaced Miss Friendship colspan=5 2001 Rowina Taimanao Ogo Saipan Unplaced 2002 Christine Juwelle Cunanan Saipan Unplaced 2003 Nancie Rae King Ripple Saipan Unplaced 2004 Kenyelyn Litumular Arriola Saipan Unplaced colspan=5 2006 Shequita Deleon Guerrero Bennett Kagman Unplaced colspan=5 2009 Sorene Aldan Maratita Kagman Unplaced colspan=5 2015 Jian Joyner Saipan Unplaced 2016 Peachy Quitugua Saipan Unplaced colspan=5 2018 Celine Concepcion Cabrera Saipan Unplaced 2019 Shannon Tudela Sasamoto Saipan Unplaced colspan=5 2022 Savannah Lyn Delos Santos Saipan Top 15 colspan=5
Former titleholders under Miss Marianas org. Miss Marianas Universe
Year Miss Northern Marianas Represented Placement at Miss Universe Special Award(s) 1976 Candelaria Flores Borja As Teo Unplaced 1977 Margarita Benavente Camacho San Vicente Unplaced 1978 Julia Salas Concepcion Chalan Kanoa Dist.#1 Unplaced 1979 Barbara Torres Chalan Kanoa Dist #3 Unplaced 1980 Angelina Camacho Chong Garapan Unplaced 1981 Juanita Mendiola Tinian Unplaced 1982 Sheryl Sonoda Sizemore Chalan Kanoa Dist #1 Unplaced 1983 Thelma Mafnas Sadog Tasi Unplaced 1984 Porsche Salas Chalan Kanoa Dist#4 Unplaced 1985 Antoinette Marie Flores Susupe Unplaced 1986 Christine Guerrero Capital Hill Unplaced 1987 Luciana Seman Ada Fina Sisu Unplaced 1988 Ruby Jean Hamilton Gualo Rai Unplaced 1989 Soreen Villanueva Capital Hill Unplaced 1990 Edwina Taitano Menzies Tinian Unplaced 1991 Sharon Rosario Chalan Lau Lau Unplaced 1992 Imelda Antonio Puerto Rico Unplaced 1993 Victoria Taisakan Tudela San Jose Unplaced 1994 Elizabeth Tomokane Gualo Rai Unplaced 1995 Karah Kirschenheiter Capital Hill Unplaced 1996 Kathleen Williams Garapan Unplaced 1997 Melanie Sibetang Oleai Unplaced 1998 Helene Yun Lizama Dan Dan Unplaced 1999 Cherlyn Cabrera Chalan Kanoa Dist#1 Unplaced colspan=5 2001 Janet Han King Tinian Unplaced 2002 Virginia Ann Gridley Chalan Kanoa Unplaced colspan=5 2006 Shequita Deleon Guerrero Bennett Kagman Unplaced colspan=5
Miss Marianas World
Year Miss Northern Marianas Represented Placement at Miss World Special Award(s) 2003 Kimberly Castro Reyes Gualo Rai Unplaced colspan=5
Other License Holders Miss Earth Northern Mariana Islands
Year Miss Earth Northern Marianas Represented Placement at Miss Earth Special Award(s) 2025 Aria Keilbach Saipan Top 25
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, 2006, 2007, 2009–2014, and 2017 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, 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 2008, did not compete in Miss Universe 2008 due to lack of sponsorship and funding. She represented the Marianas in Miss International.
References