Ms. Y contestants prepare for popular pageant
Just as we look forward to La Ruta Maya in March and the Cross Country in April…May would just not be the same without Miss Y. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods looked in on rehearsals for Friday night’s mother of all pageants.
Birdy Francis, Coordinator/Choreographer, Miss Y
“This pageant is unique because it?s not a competition. This is strictly a fun programme for the Y to raise money for the rest of the year.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
This year’s participants, ranging in age from sixty to eighty, still know how to have a good time. The women believe they should be an inspiration to the younger generation who may have a totally different outlook on the process of ageing.
Catherine Flowers, 61 years old
“We can move, we can do talent as good as them and better than Miss Universe, I guess.”
The women, who have taken a break from their daily routines, to prepare for this weekend’s pageant, are also volunteers in a number of community services.
Millie Tyler, 60 years old
“First, I was instigated by my niece from last year, but I wasn?t quite sixty yet. But most of all, I wanted to do it to help out because it?s non-profit and it?s to help raise funds for the Y.”
Syrian Hall, 86 years old
“No, I don?t think my chances as nothing; I just do it for the fun of it because I like it, that?s all. So I?ll do my best to see what I can do.”
Glenda Ferguson, 60 years old
“From when I was forty-seven I wanted to be in Miss Y and everybody told me I was too young. Now that I am sixty-years old, with God?s help he keeps me to be in Miss Y pageant now.”
Catherine Flowers
“From ever since I was a member of the Y?and I continue to serve the Y?I always wanted to go up. And when the YWCA started this pageant, I said, I can?t wait till I was fifty-five. Fortunately, it was fifty-five. But then it went to sixty, so when I was sixty years old, and I was hospitalised praying to walk again, I said, oh Lord, please let me walk, I have to get into Miss Y. Fortunately, I am here, sixty-one years young, waiting to go into that pageant.”
Cynthia Watters, 70 years old
“It’s for a good cause and I don?t go to anything, so by coming out to this, it makes you feel different. You know you are old, you have to be getting in things.”
Adriana Baltazar, 79 years old
“I like to volunteer and I want everything in all organisations that I am in to go ahead, so I am working very hard on this pageant.”
The funds raised from the Miss Y pageant will be used to support the association’s programmes. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
The pageant gets underway at the Belize City Centre at seven on Friday night. Tickets can be bought at Y.W.C.A. or at the door for twenty dollars reserve, twelve dollars general admission, and five dollars for children.
