Video featuring former Guam beauty queens highlights power of representation

In just a matter of days, a local video project featuring local former beauty queens has surged past 110,000 views on social media — striking a chord and spotlighting the undeniable power of representation. KUAM's Destiny Cruz-Langas was one of the former Miss Guams featured in the project.

Beyond the glitz and glamour, becoming a pageant titleholder is about far more than wearing a crown and sash. It’s about representing the place you call home — sharing its stories, its people, and its identity on the world stage. It’s a responsibility many former Miss Guams understand deeply, as they reflect on identity in a recently released video project — one that explores a central question: what does it truly mean to represent Guam?

The video comes on the heels of the recent controversy surrounding the appointment of Miss International Guam, a titleholder who reportedly had no ties to the island. The situation sparking thoughtful dialogue across social media about connection, culture, and what authentic representation looks like for the island, with voices like former Miss Guam Cyndal Abad, helping to shape the conversation. “However, when it comes to the island of Guam, an island as small as ours, a voice that has been suppressed for so many years, representation matters," Abad said.

And while the appointed titleholder ultimately stepped down, choosing not to compete, and even issuing a public apology — the moment continued to inspire reflection. Local creatives behind the video say their goal was not to criticize, but to uplift — using the moment as an opportunity to highlight the voices and experiences of women who have represented Guam with pride, and inspire a new generation.

Media makeup artist Michelle Dotdot and award-winning filmmaker Brian Muna are among the minds behind the project. “The intention was to respond to the controversy, but she respectfully stepped down," Dotdot said. "So now it was like, well — do we still need to respond? She stepped down. And I was like, you know what? These queens deserve to be shown and highlighted and acknowledged and honored."

Muna added, “I didn’t want to respond in a way that was disrespectful… I think we need to show and remind Guam that we had amazing queens in the past, and we can have amazing queens in the future — that have ties to Guam and know the culture and heritage.”

And for Muna, a filmmaker, the message extends beyond the moment— focusing on the lasting impact of representation and the responsibility that comes with it. “It’s about really, the crown you wear is for everyone, it’s not just for yourself. I think the video really hit home, especially this many years later. Some of you were like, I’ve never touched that crown. Some of you are becoming a mom, some have families some just moved on with their lives, but you’re all doing significant things, and I think that’s very important to see that there’s an after, even after the crown," he stated.

And as the door remains open for major pageant franchises to make their return to the island scene, the community is making it clear: they’re ready.