Costa Maya beauties touch down at the PGIA

Channel Five announces it will be airing live this year’s La Reina De La Costa Maya; one of the most anticipated items in the Costa Maya Festival calendar. The event is held annually at La Isla Bonita to promote regional tourism. Earlier today, a number of the contestants arrived for the pageant which takes place next Thursday night. Beauty queens from Belize, the rest of Central America and Mexico will compete for the coveted title. News Five’s Delahnie Bain was at the PGIA and has this report. 

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

This year’s International Costa Maya Festival in San Pedro promises great entertainment from start to finish. One of the most anticipated events is the Reina De La Costa Maya Pageant, which features beauties from all over Central America. Today, the first three contestants arrived in the country along with the reigning queen.

Krysia Ortiz Campos, Miss Costa Rica    (Translated)

“Firstly, I will put all my efforts into this pageant, the Reina De La Costa Maya and to highlight my country. It’s my first time competing internationally, but in my country I am Miss World Costa Rica.”

Diana Ingrid Martinez Pineda, Miss El Salvador   (Translated)

“I am delighted. I know that I’ll have the support of the Salvadoran community here and the Belizeans because I know that they are friendly.”

Nicole Yaret Hawit, Miss Honduras   (Translated)

“I feel great and very beautiful. It’s a very beautiful experience. I have gotten to know the participants from El Salvador, Costa Rica and Miss Costa Maya from last year. I am very happy to be here, I feel the heat, it’s a beautiful island. It’s my first time here and it’s very beautiful.”

Maritza Rivas, La Reina De La Costa Maya 2009“I’m expecting it to be a happy occasion, for the girls to have fun and enjoy what Belize offers to us and also to promote the other girls’ country because that’s one of the focus to come here, promote each country and create an alliance about tourism. Here, Belize can offer history, architecture, nature and all things and share with the others from the other countries what they can share.”

The ladies say they are well prepared because they’re here to make their countries proud and they all have their eyes on the crown.

Krysia Ortiz Campos

“I think that I need to make the difference with training and dedication, and to work for what one wants to achieve. My objective is to obtain the crown and I’ll do everything that is required to win the pageant.”

Diana Ingrid Martinez Pineda

“I’ve actually been preparing for months. I’ve been training physically, I’ve been training psychologically; in every way. I bring enthusiasm, I bring joy and I bring a commitment as a woman dedicated to this event and I will represent well. It’s a great responsibility, I have to show that the Salvadoran movement is smart, modest and beautiful.”

Nicole Yaret Hawit

“I think if we’re here, everyone has something special. I believe that we’re here for a reason and so everyone will do their best to win on this beautiful island. It’s a responsibility and I am very, very happy that I am here representing my country, Honduras.”

And while she passes on the crown this year, the outgoing Reina De La Costa Maya, Maritza Rivas says she’s had a good year.

Maritza Rivas

“Very good, very fun and it was very exciting for my country also because it’s the first time Nicaragua won Miss Costa Maya. So that was very good also for my professional career like modeling, it helped a lot.”

The ladies boarded a connecting flight and headed to La Isla Bonita, San Pedro. Miss Mexico, Priscilla Pastrana Lopez, is also on the island along with Miss Belize, Liliana Mia Nunez. The remaining three contestants will arrive On Saturday. they are: Miss Nicaragua, Claudia Alejandra Trejos Gadea; Miss Guatemala, Gabriela Asturias and Panama, Yosibell Sánchez Espino. Delahnie Bain for News Five.

maritza rivas