Athena McNinch

Athena Eva Su McNinch[1] (born December 28, 1997) is a Guamanian-Taiwanese beauty pageant titleholder who was Miss Universe Guam 2018. Athena also represented Guam at the Miss International 2019 in Tokyo, Japan.[2]

Athena Eva Su McNinch
Born	(1997-12-28) 28 December 1997 Mangilao, Guam
Alma mater	University of Guam
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Title	Miss Universe Guam 2018
Beauty pageant titleholder
Hair color	Dark Brown
Eye color	Dark Brown
Major competition(s)	Face of Beauty International 2014 (Unplaced) Miss World Guam 2015 (Unplaced) Miss Universe Guam 2018 (Winner) Miss Universe 2018 (Unplaced) Miss International 2019 (Unplaced)

Early life and education

Athena has lived her entire life in Mangilao, Guam, the village where the University of Guam is located. Her mother is from Kaohsiung, Taiwan and is Chinese-Polynesian. Her father is Irish, Norwegian and English. In high school, Athena worked as a camp aide for 5-7 year olds at the University of Guam Summer Camp.[3] In college, she worked as a barista at a coffee shop[4] and as a Miss Guam Ambassador for the Guam Visitor's Bureau.[5] She is currently a graduate teaching assistant for former Governor Ansito Walter at the University of Guam. Athena speaks English and Mandarin Chinese. Athena finished two under-graduate degrees in Public Administration and Criminal Justice with honors[6] in 2018 from the University of Guam.[7] She currently studying in the Masters of Public Administration program at the University of Guam.[8] Athena's thesis topic is on the unfinished work of Guam elected governors.

At 13, Athena was the youngest person to finish the Guam Ko'Ko Half Marathon race.[7] In 2017, she was named a Harry S. Truman Scholar,[9] followed by earning the US Congressional Award Gold Medal in 2018.[10][11] Athena is an active member of the Alpha Phi Sigma,[12] Blue Key Honors Society,[13] and Golden Key International Honors Society.[1]

Pageantry

Athena was named to serve as the Guam representative to the Miss International pageant in April 2019. this event will be held in Tokyo, Japan in November 2019. Athena was crowned the Miss Universe Guam 2018 by 2017 Miss Universe Guam, Myana Welch, at the Guam Sheraton. She represented Guam in Bangkok, Thailand in December 2018. In the 2018 Miss Universe Guam Pageant, Athena was named best in evening gown and best in swimsuit. In 2015, Athena was named First Runner Up and Miss Photogenic in the Miss World Guam Pageant.[14] In 2014, Athena represented Guam in the Face of Beauty International Pageant.[15]

References

1. https://www.missuniverse.com/contestant/1000510
2. http://missosology.org/miss-universe/50488-athena-mcninch-is-miss-universe-guam-2018/
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2018-09-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. https://www.facebook.com/InfusionGuam/
5. https://www.guamvisitorsbureau.com/
6. https://www.uog.edu/_resources/files/commencements/2018-Fanomnakan-Spring-Commencement-Booklet-web.pdf
7. McNinch, Ron. "Why not allow graduates to wear mwar mwar?". The Guam Daily Post. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
8. "Master of Public Administration - University of Guam". www.uog.edu.
9. "2017 Truman Scholars | The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation". www.truman.gov. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
10. "2018 Gold Medalists". Congressional Award. 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
11. "Guam's Athena McNinch Receives Congressional Award Gold Medal". 21 June 2018. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
12. "UOG Students Inducted Into Criminal Justice Honor Society - University of Guam". www.uog.edu.
13. "UOG Blue Key Honor Society Guam Chapter". www.facebook.com.
14. https://thegreatpageantcommunity.com/2015/09/15/miss-world-guam-2015-contestants-photos/
15. Missosology (20 November 2014). "GALLERY: Face of Beauty International 2014 National Costume Presentation - Missosology".

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Myana Welch	Miss Universe Guam 2018	Succeeded by Sissie Luo