International Pageant shows USU students diversity

The Miss and Mister International Pageant held on Saturday was the final event of Diversity Week at Utah State University.

Sandra Molina, Miss Mexico, and Hironori Saeki, Mr. Japan, were the winners of the pageant.

For Geraldine De La Mota, who was in charge of the event, it was the end of months of preparation.

“It’s been a week of celebration of different cultures,” De La Mota said. “Everything has gone according to plan. All the hard work has paid off.”

De La Mota said she planned the pageant with the intent of showcasing different cultures of USU students.

“There are a lot of international students at this university,” De La Mota said. “We like to not only celebrate but also teach other students what it is like in the world.”

Angie Batista, vice president of the International Student Council, planned the pageant last year.

“Last year we had a lot of United States students come which is really what we want,” Batista said. 

“International students will come to support their friends, but it is nice to see United States students.”

The pageant had 11 contestants who participated in a talent to represent their own culture.

“It’s important that they were able to share parts of their country,” Batista said. “We had a lot of different 

countries represented. That’s why we do this, to show students different country’s cultures.”

De La Mota said USU is a great place for international students.

“USU is rich in culture because of all the international students that have come here,” De La Mota said. 

“Diversity Week is a way to show the different cultures students at USU come from.”