Who Will Be Miss African Queen 2019?
A pageant with a different mission returns this coming weekend after a three-year hiatus. Miss African Queen will be back at the Bliss where six young ladies will be competing to show off the cultural flavour of Africa. The proceeds of the pageant will be used to assist needy women and children. Here is Duane Moody with a report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
This Saturday at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts, six delegates will vie for the coveted title of Miss African Queen 2019. It’s a unique Belizean pageant that seeks to promote cultural heritage in Belizean women of African descent. After a three-year hiatus, the pageant which is organized by Concerned Belizean Women is back.
Karen Vernon
Karen Vernon, Representative, Concerned Belizean Women
“We missed a couple years, but we are back. We have a very nice set of girls. They have been rehearsing and they are ready for Saturday. Miss African Queen came about. We have a committee called Concerned Belizean Women and we raise funds and donate to disenfranchised women and children, halfway houses, schools, we do scholarships and stuff like that. So we needed a fundraiser and we started with Miss African Queen. Miss Birdie was the founder of the group and we also do Little Miss Belize and we plan to do Mister African King sometime later this year as a first time.”
It is a very competitive pageant that takes on an educational aspect. The delegates pick an African country and after research, they present via introduction, talent, and a platform statement in African regalia. The statement is on why they are proud to be a Belizean woman of African descent.
Chinyeré Wade
Chinyeré Wade, Delegate
“My interest came about when I attended the second and third pageant with Sherilyn who won that year and then Rosalyn, her sister, who went up a year after that. I was a part of that. And then when I saw what it was about and just the name, African Queen. I am black so why not. So that made me interested in going up for the pageant. It’s a lot like you’ve mentioned. I am quite excited much like the other girls who are and I feel like it will be a good show.”
Kiara Williams
Kiara Williams, Delegate
“I was reading a lot about history and I was very inspired by the country and the people and I wanted to educate people a little bit about the country because there are many interesting things that I found that I never knew about so I was really…that motivated me and to enlighten people that we come from a continent of riches and we need to rediscover our true identity. I’m extremely excited. I expect anything. The unexpected can happen so I am prepared for everything.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
