Meet the Delegates of the 73rd Queen of the Bay

The Queen of the Bay pageant is seeped in tradition; there is the famous curtsy that will clinch the crown, the sceptre and the cape that have to be worn. This weekend, the seventy-third queen will be selected and crowned on the morning of the tenth of September following the reading of a proclamation.  Six young ladies from across the country will be competing for all that this Friday night, except for Orange Walk given last year’s fiasco. Today, News Five’s Duane Moody caught up with them as they rehearsed in anticipation of the pageant.

Duane Moody, Reporting

One of the highlights of the September celebrations’ activities is the highly anticipated national Queen of the Bay pageant. Meet the six delegates vying for the title as the seventy-third national Queen of the Bay.

Shanda Williams, Delegate

“I am Shanda Williams, proudly representing Toledo, beautiful Peini Punta Gorda. The reason I want to be seventy-third annual queen of the bay is because I have confidence, I am very determined and hardworking.”

Kiara Williams, Delegate

“I’m eighteen-year-old Kiara Williams, Miss Belize Rural. Becoming the Queen of the Bay has always been my childhood dream. I want to be forever in the history of my country, advocate for needs of young people and become a role model at the same time.”

Nisha Bailey, Delegate

“I’m Nisha Bailey proudly representing the largest city in our country, Belize City. The reason why I want to be Queen of the Bay 2018/2019 is because I love working with children and empower young women.”

Ruby Hernandez, Delegate

“I am Ruby Hernandez, proudly representing Corozal Bay. I want to be the seventy-third Queen of the Bay because I want to inspire and motivate young people.”

Jinelli Cruz, Delegate

“I am Jinelli Cruz and I am representing our nation’s capital city, Belmopan. Why I want to be the next seventy-third Queen of the Bay is because I want to work with the youths in a positive manner through programmes and vo-technical skills training in order for them to develop a determined mindset for them to excel.”

Carolyn Jang, Delegate

“I am nineteen year old Carolyn Jang, proudly representing the Stann Creek title. Holding the queen of the bay title has been an aspiration of mine from a child and I entered this pageant to show my love for my country and to empower the young women.”

All six delegates were either winners from their respective municipalities or partook in a vetting process for them to be accepted as a delegate in this year’s national pageant. Unfortunately, following last year’s double crowning fiasco, Orange Walk did not send a delegate. Nevertheless, the delegates will compete in several categories; the swimsuit category has once again been taken out of the pageant.

Shania Garnett

Shania Garnett, Member, National Queen of the Bay Committee

“This is the seventy-third chapter and we are very excited. We have six delegates vying for the title Queen of the Bay 2018/2019. So that’s what we can expect tomorrow night. We have the introduction, we have talent, the most expected part the curtsy and the final and scary part, the question and answer.  We look for someone who would represent the meaning behind the tenth and represent our country well—someone with grace, someone with class and someone who is intelligent—not just outward beauty, but inward beauty.”

The outgoing queen, Aliyah Ysaguirre, who was the Stann Creel delegate that won last year’s competition, knows all too well the preparation and dedication that each hopeful has to put in to clinch the title. She shared some words of encouragement to them.

Aliyah Ysaguirre

Aliyah Ysaguirre, Queen of the Bay 2017/18

“I feel like I’m here soaking in all their nervousness cause I feel nervous for them because tomorrow is the pageant. But my advice for them is you practiced long and hard for this, so just do your utmost best. Do everything that you practiced; don’t stress over anything that’s something key. No stressing, relax and be you.”

Duane Moody for News Five.