From Miss Independence to Miss Florida Teen Delegate
A Belizean studying in Florida is preparing for the Miss Florida Teen competition this summer. Seventeen year old Isabella Zabaneh will enter as Miss North Tampa Teen U.S.A., but her ultimate goal is to one day represent Belize on the world stage as Miss Universe Belize. Currently, she is pursuing a degree in Tampa, majoring in Political Science and International Studies. She spoke to News Five about why she entered the pageant.
Isabella Zabaneh, Miss Tampa Florida Teen USA Delegate
“It really was just a kind of spur of the moment thing. Id only been living in the States for about a month and a half, two months, when I started seeing the ads and really started to think about ok, Bella, maybe you could do this. And so it was about two months about living here I applied. It was kind of just to see If I would even qualify, the things I do at home if it would make the cut.”
Paul Lopez, Reporting
One of those things she does at home, included starting a non-profit when she was a student at Independence High School, called “Project Royalty.”
Isabella Zabaneh
“Some people in Belize may know this. I did a big thing when I was Miss Independence in 2018 and I did this in 2019. I had a non- profit, it still exists, still happening, but with COVID-19 it’s been a bit crazy. We get prom dresses and formal wear, and we gave them to girls who wanted to go to prom and could not afford it. We just wanted to help you know and give girls opportunities. Prom is a big deal, so that is what I tried to do under my reign, and I still do that.”
Zabaneh is continuing her dress drive in the U.S. in partnership with two charities. She is also working to increase awareness about bullying, and encouraging young women to embrace their inner beauty. She feels pageants are sometimes misunderstood.
Isabella Zabaneh
Isabella Zabaneh
“From the outside it may seem like pageants are just this beauty competition and how pretty is she. That is what people, the stereotypical person, would just be like, “Oh pageants, they are judging her and if she is pretty.” People think it is like this extremely sexist thing. And it is not. In my experience with pageants I have worked with incredible girls and I mean they have been on lower scales. When I won Independence, I only competed against five or six other girls, so it was much smaller, and it was only for my local town. And then when I was like ten or eleven, I did Queen of the Bay, which was another local pageant for my town. I do not even think I placed. I did not win anything. So, it was just opportunities, something to do for a little girl, because there is not too much. This is my biggest pageant thus far. Hopefully not my last. I want to do possibly even Miss Florida, maybe, if this is successful. And then Miss Belize of course. I am a firm believer that nobody is ugly. God created in his image. And so, even if you are not stereotypically what people would consider pretty, there is always something beautiful about you to me. That is just how I see people. So, all these girls to me are stunning. I do not have self-esteem issues, but personally it thinks a lot of them are much prettier than I consider myself to be. These girls are gorgeous. They seem like they have it all together. They know what they are doing. These girls go above and beyond. I have met a couple of them, and they are incredible people. I, personally, am really through the roof that I can just be around these people and like considered one of them. That is huge for me.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
The Miss Florida Teen U.S.A. competition is scheduled for July. Prizes include over one hundred thousand dollars in gifts, cash and scholarships and a variety of fashion and beauty services.
