Miss Kaua‘i Scholarship Pageant set for this Saturday

LIHU‘E — Tickets for the 53rd annual Miss Kaua‘i Filipina Scholarship Pageant are still available by contacting any of the eight contestants, or by calling Liza Trinidad, president of the Kaua‘i Filipino Community Council.

Trinidad said if the tickets don’t sell out by the Saturday pageant, they’ll also be available at the door when the pageant unfolds at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall at 7 p.m.

“Proceeds from the pageant go toward providing scholarships to Kaua‘i’s graduating seniors,” Trinidad said, Saturday at the Kukui Grove Center. “We’ll have the 10 scholarship recipients at the pageant, as well.”

Seven of the eight contestants were at Kukui Grove to model fashions from some of the mall tenants, a tradition which has been preserved over the years.

“It allows the girls an opportunity to be in public while helping the mall shops,” said Virgie Cruzada, the hostess for the Saturday fashion show.

Saturday’s appearance marks the second time all of the contestants have been in the public eye, Trinidad said. The first time was last month when the girls were helping raise funds for the Japan disaster. Prior to the pageant, the girls are scheduled to be on the radio so people can learn more about them. On pageant night, they will be at their peak form, joining some of the KFCC organizations in the different competitive phases including Best in Swimsuit, Talent, Best in Terno, a Filipino formal gown, and Best in Terno Speech.

Contestants for this year’s pageant include Jazzlyn Pasion-Saflor, Sherilyn Melchor, Mary Lindsey, Raevyn Simone Ibia, Tahmineh Venzon, Kiersten Beltrame, Nicolette Levinthol and Topaz Fernandez.

Jayna Shaffer is the reigning Miss Kaua‘i Filipina. Michelle Lizama, a former Miss Kaua‘i Filipina, is the pageant director.

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.