Crystal Fiona Rio is 2021 Miss Earth Northern Marianas

Crystal Fiona Rio was crowned Miss Earth Northern Marianas 2021 during the finals held September 18 at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. The 18-year-old psychology student from Chalan Kanoa beaten five other candidates for the title. She will represent the Islands at the 2021 Miss Earth pageant to be held later this year. She succeeded 2020 winner Maria Lael Terlaje. Rio also bagged the People’s Choice and Best in Evening Gown awards.

The 2021 Miss Earth Northern Marianas beauty pageant—which featured competitions in native costumes, swimsuits, and evening gowns, two question-and-answer portions, and a video tribute for the late 2020 Miss Earth Ecotourism Arianne Cabrera— was organized by Exquisite Productions.

In the final question-and-answer portion of the pageant, Rio was asked, “Among the deserving finalists tonight, why should the judges select you as the 2021 Miss Earth Northern Marianas?” Rio responded, saying that as Miss Earth she will focus on the “small things that make a bigger impact.”

“All of the finalists right now all deserve the crown in some way, and I believe that I deserve the crown because I have so much to give. I am focusing on the smaller things that make a bigger impact. I want to focus on the smaller groups [and] the smaller communities before we move on to the bigger communities to make sure that the impact shows within our environment and our community,” said Rio.

Before last Saturday’s winners were awarded, a tribute video to 2020 Miss Earth Northern Marianas Maria Lael Terlaje was played, and afterward Terlaje took her “Farewell Walk.” After being crowned as 2021 Miss Earth Northern Marianas, Rio took a “Victory Walk.”

Unlike last year’s event, which was held virtually and had no live audience, this year’s pageant was held live, with some videos such as slideshows and a video tribute for Cabrera.

The 2021 Miss Earth Northern Marianas’s court includes 

1st runner-up (or Miss Earth-Air)  – Sue Ann Huevos

2nd runner-up (or Miss Earth-Water) – Justine Rain Kirby

3rd runner-up (or Miss Earth-Fire) – Stephanie Celine Borja