The 74th Queen of the Bay to be selected this Friday

The annual pageant to select the Queen of the Bay takes place this Friday. This evening, eight young delegates from across the country were at the Bliss Institute in anticipation of the pageant. We caught them practising the all important curtsy which is a major component of the pageant. Outgoing Queen of the Bay, Jenny Lee Cruz, who also wears this year’s KTV crown, was on hand as the aspiring delegates strutted across the stage. The pageant is one of the oldest in Belize and is seeped tradition including a spectre, cape and crown. The seventy-fourth Queen of the Bay will be crowned on the morning of September tenth at official ceremonies in Belize City. This evening, they shared with us what the pageant means to them.

Kiah Pastor, Delegate, Queen of the Bay 2019

Kiah Pastor

“I love pageantry, this isn’t my first pageant. But for  me the significance of Queen of the Bay it is important for me to be a part of this tradition,. Because myself as an ambitious young woman it is my duty.”

Antonisha Gabriel

Antonisha Gabriel, Delegate, Queen of the Bay 2019

“I want to make history in my district because you know Toledo only won two: Miss Shari Williams and Miss Jarene Avil, so I want to be the third and my district is riding for me. So if I would become the 74th Queen of the Bay it would be a pleasure and I would accept my crown with excellence.

Kimberly Santos, Delegate, Queen of the Bay 2019

Kimberly Santos

“Well Queen of the Bay is all about  love for your country,. I am a very patriotic person and that is why I decided to do that. It is also about strength like the queen I am standing up for what is right. Also an emblem of freedom which means everyone is free to whatever they please. I also want to build upon my platform with the reduction of single use plastics and styrofoam and also work with the children and the elderly.”

Aliyshia Deshield

Aliyshia Deshield, Delegate, Queen of the Bay 2019

“Well I decided to vie for the title of 74th  Queen of the Bay this year because I wanted to be appositive role model to all young women. And I just want them to know that they can push for whatever it is they want in life. Also, I have a platform which is I am advocating for mental health and I want to reach out to youths through mental health, specifically depression and anxiety.”

Sabrina Coleman, Delegate, Queen of the Bay 2019

Sabrina Coleman

“The main reason I decided to vie for the Queen of the Bay is because I love my country. And the Queen of the Bay pageant is a great way for me to express my patriotism as a Belizean. Also, because I want to be a beacon of change for my country and my community because I believe that the only way you can change is by leading by example.”

Alyssa Faux

Alyssa Faux, Delegate, Queen of the Bay 2019

“I decided to vie to show beautiful young ladies like myself that they too can get up, get out and get it done for themselves. I will just do all that I can and help wherever I am needed. Even if I am not needed I will help and do my best to help make a change in our country, Belize.”

Aaliyah Pilgrim, Delegate, Queen of the Bay 2019

Aaliyah Pilgrim

“In San Pedro I am a member of a CAB group that is the Children’s Advisory Board and I just thing that my platform will give me a way to communicate with all the municipalities by bringing us together more than we already are. Just put children’s priorities before any one self and just advocate for e very need that Belize is in need for.”

Jenny-Lee Cruz

Jenny-Lee Cruz, Queen of the Bay 2018

“My reign was very great, I’ve created a platform but i found myself doing more than I have expected to do and that gave me the opportunity to meet more people. I have worked with children, elderly folks, I visited schools, attended events, sing and I have created a platform o encourage kids to never give up on their dreams and that is what I have been doing.”

Amanda Taylor, National Committee Member, Queen of the Bay

Amanda Taylor

“A lot of patriotism coming from the girls can be expected. Each of them have something different to bring to the stage being that they will be representing different districts and different parts of the country. The judges will be looking for charm, grace, eloquence and of course patriotism. As you all know the Queen of the Bay is an emblem of freedom representing…she is a representation of the battle of St. Gorges Caye.”