Jenelli Fraser is Miss Universe Belize 2018

Belize has a new beauty ambassador. She is twenty-seven-year-old Jenelli Fraser from Belize City who on Saturday clinched the title of Miss Universe Belize. The beauty queen was crowned after she bested ten other hopefuls from around the country. The new queen was crowned by outgoing Miss Belize Rebecca Rath. Fraser will represent Belize at the international Miss Universe Pageant to be held in December of this year in Bangkok, Thailand.  Andrea Polanco shares some highlights from Saturday night’s show.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

Twenty-seven-year-old Jenelli Fraser is the new Miss Universe Belize. The Belize City resident was crowned on Saturday night inside the Biltmore Hotel after beating out ten other contestants.

Jenelli Fraser, Miss Universe Belize 2018

Jenelli Fraser

“I was really, really excited. I have been working so hard for that moment and I said finally my hard work paid off and my journey begins.”

The eleven ladies, including Fraser, competed in a couple segments which included swimsuit and evening gown, after which five contestants advanced: Selena Urias, Kiah Pastor, Jenelli Fraser, Ashley Reid and Christalyn Castillo. The semi-finalists were each given a question to answer – so that the judges could select the top three contestants. Here’s how three of the top five responded.

William Neal, Host, Miss Universe Belize 2018

“What is your personal opinion on the decriminalization of Marijuana in the country of Belize?”

Ashley Reid, Contestant

“I would first like to start off by saying that I support it. One hundred percent because I know it benefit a lot of people more than alcohol does. Alcohol causes people to kill each other and do a lot of negative things. But what has marijuana done negatively? So, yes, I am in full support. And I don’t see anything wrong with it because Marijuna is medicinal. Thank you.”

William Neal

“Do you think the House of Representatives should have a minimum mandatory quota for women? Yes or No? And why?”

Selena Urias, Contestant

“I do believe that women should. First of all, women have revolutionized through-out the years and even up to today. They are great leaders and I strongly support that. Thank you.”

William Neal

“Social Media allows us to share every aspect of our lives. But it also allows us to compare ourselves to others. That being said, do you think social media has a negative or positive impact on society?”

Kiah Pastor

Kiah Pastor, Contestant

“Everything has its pros and its cons. But I believe that social media has affected us very positively. It has opened doors for us to communicate with people from all over the world and learn different cultures and meet new people. It has also given us a voice to speak anything we want to. Thank you.”

And much to the public’s surprise, the ladies were asked to do a walk because there was a “tie” – and following that tie breaker of a couple seconds walk across the stage, the judges were confident they had selected the top three. But much to the public’s dismay, Belmopan’s Kiah Pastor, whom many saw as a front-runner in the pageant, didn’t make the cut after the tie-breaker. The top three ladies selected were Fraser, Reid and Castillo. And then it was the final question to determine the winner – Here’s how Castillo and Fraser described what it means to be confidently beautiful in 2018.

Christalyn Castillo, Contestant

Christalyn Castillo

“Beauty can be defined by your looks, your appearance. But also by your character. Beauty can vary from a person to a person or from nations to other nations. But for me beauty is having a nice personality and as well as carrying our yourself and inspiring others. If each and every one of us are beautiful from the inside-out, our communities can then be strengthened from the inside out. Thank you.”

Jenelli Fraser, Miss Universe Belize 2018

“Confidently beautiful is me in this moment. I cannot help but feel overwhelmed with the emotions of the journey that it took for me to get here. It meant that I had to overcome fear, negative comments and a weight loss of over twenty-pounds. It means I will become the next beauty ambassador for my country and what an honor. I am the epitome of what my country is. I am bold. I am strong. I am confidently beautiful.”

Fraser’s response won her the crown and title of Miss Universe Belize 2018; Reid nabbed second place and Castillo took home third. Fraser will now represent Belize in the Miss Universe Pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, in December.

Andrea Polanco reporting for News Five.