Miss Belize 2003/04 crowned

On Friday night before a packed audience at the Belize City Centre, twenty-three year old Leilah Pandy was crowned Miss Belize. Pandy says she still cannot believe that she won the pageant.

Leilah Pandy, Miss Belize

“It was shockingly surprising, because I honestly thought that Dalila Vanzie would have won. I knew she was the crowd favourite and stuff like that and I honestly… like when we were up on stage for the chit chat and question and answer section, even though I was on stage, I don’t remember what they asked the girls, I don’t remember what they answered, what their answers were, I can’t even remember what my answer was, you know I was so absorbed into… the main things mainly for the girls, for all of us was don’t trip because the stage was uneven at certain parts so we were like, that area, section A, section B, section C, don’t trip there, there is a bump there, there is a hole there, so that was the main thing for me.”

Jacqueline Woods

“So what do you think did it for you?”

Leilah Pandy

“I am at a loss to answer that question. For the first part of the final question, I hesitated. For what reason under the sun, I don’t know why I hesitated in answering that question. But I was told afterwards that it was content, the substance that was in my answer that actually put me over the top.”

“As expected, I will be entering various pageants I understand, locally as well as internationally; the Costa Maya that we have in San Pedro and also abroad. As far as being a role model in Belize itself, I still yet have to see the itinerary for the year and stuff like that, but I do know there are things I would like to add to that.”

Pandy says one of her goals as Miss Belize is to provide the Sister Cecilia Home for the Elderly with a piano. Pandy says it was a challenge she accepted after being told by one of the residents that she would win and they would appreciate it if she would provide the home with the musical instrument. Pandy also captured the title of Miss Physique. Dalila Vanzie from Dangriga took second place.