Contestants prepare for Miss Teen Belize Pageant
There is Miss Belize, the Queen of the Bay, Miss Y for seniors, and now there is Miss Teen Belize. This Friday night teenage girls from around the country will try and convince a pageant-loving public that Miss Teen Belize is a competition worth entering. News Five caught up with some of the contestants during rehearsals this week.
There are twelve contestants vying for the title of “Miss Teen Belize”. They range in age from fifteen to eighteen and come from Orange Walk, Belmopan, Belize City and San Pedro Town. Their reasons for entering vary, but they are all enthusiastic about being the first set of contestants.
Eleanor Kelly, 18 Years Old / Belize City
“Well, I decided to enter the Miss Teen Belize because as a little girl growing up, I’ve always dreamt about becoming an ambassador to Belize and this pageant will give me the opportunity to become an ambassador to Belize. I also entered this pageant because I really want to prove to myself that I am not as shy as I believe I am.”
Zoe Hunter, 17 Years Old / Belize City
“Well because I thought it would be a great experience. I will get to meet new friends; and the scholarship. The first prize, it is a scholarship and I am big on education.”
Kelly Escobar, 18 Years Old / Cayo
“It was my brother who actually told me to, you know. When I told him that I want to go into the pageant, he said you should go up for it. So it was actually my brother who made me enter the pageant and my friends too. I had great support from them.”
Since early July, the contestants have been rehearsing daily for two hours at the Belize City Centre. Although they are competitors, the girls say the rehearsal time has made everyone close.
Priscilla Mejia, 16 Years Old / Orange Walk
“In the beginning we were a bit separated from each other because we were very new. But eventually as the time went by we came closer to each other and we are like sisters right now and best friends and we just carry along with each other very well.”
It is the first time that a teen pageant has been held and organized by teenagers themselves. Although there are two adults on the committee, Nicole Nisbet, says it is the young crew that is in charge. Nisbet spoke about some of the new and exciting items that will be in the pageant.
Nicole Nisbet, Trainer, Miss Teen Belize
“Well if you noticed in the Miss Belize Pageant, there is no talent competition. We are offering a talent competition to show that these girls are not only beautiful and smart but they are also talented. We have a lot of youngsters who will be performing at the show as well. We have a little girl who will be singing; we have some young dancers as well and we are expecting it to be more youngster coordinated than anything else.”
Besides practicing, the contestants have also been touring the country. The girls said they enjoyed their trips to Cayo and the cayes.
Tiffara Reynolds, 16 Years Old / Belize City
“It was wonderful. We stayed at the Palms Hotel, I mean their condos and it was wonderful. They had a beautiful pool. We swam in the sea; we went to Tarzan’s and really had fun.”
Nikeria Cadle, 15 Years Old / Orange Walk
“We went to San Pedro; that was great. We had fun but I got sick.”
Q: “Why? What happen to you?”
Nikeria Cadle
“I caught the flu when I was coming back because of the boat ride and the sun.”
The young ladies say they have had no regrets entering the pageant and look forward to giving the public a great show.
Tanya Lizama, 16 Years Old / Belize City
“I say that it is a pageant of distinction. This has been displayed from the beginning… girls from different backgrounds.”
Eleanor Kelly
“It has been coming along really great. Everybody is getting along and working and cooperating and that is really nice.”
Edina Matus, 18 Years Old / Belize City
“I think there are twelve beautiful contestants; they are all competent to win this title and they should come out because it will be a fun-filled evening.”
Nisbet says there are making plans for the young ladies to attend the annual carnival in Miami. Meanwhile the winner, if funds permit, will compete in the Miss World Teen Pageant.
The pageant kicks off this Friday, July thirtieth from 7:30 p.m. at the Belize City Centre. Tickets are available at Record Shacks one and two for twenty dollars reserve, ten dollars general and five dollars for children under twelve.
