Miss Mexico is new Reina de la Costa Maya
It’s a party that draws revellers from as far away as Europe and as close as Belize City, with entertainment drawn from Mexico and Central America. Last night San Pedro’s annual Costa Maya Festival kicked off with the crowning of La Reina de la Costa Maya. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods had an all access pass.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
It takes many hours and plenty of patience for any contestant to get ready for a pageant. Since 6:00 Thursday evening, the young ladies vying for the title of Miss Costa Maya 2002, started arriving at the fair grounds. Once backstage, it would take them just a little over two hours to get ready for the pageant.
Jacqueline Woods
“I know you are definitely familiar with the feelings of these young ladies right now and what they may be going through. What advice have you been giving them all evening about what to remember when they go onstage?”
Charlotte Romero, Co-ordinator, Costa Maya Pageant
“Well I think most of all they need to remember to be themselves. You need to remember that everyone out there is cheering for you, they’re your friends and you need to be less nervous than you normally…sometimes you get the jitters and stuff, but I think that you need to be calm and relaxed.
As our contestants were putting on their final touches, outside a large number of people started arriving at the fair grounds. It was the first night of festivities for this year’s Costa Maya International Fair.
Charlotte Romero
“Well I believe that the Costa Maya pageant has one main purpose and the purpose is to get all these countries together to share cultural heritage, talk about the Mayan culture and keep it alive so that people can always think about their heritage, where they come from. I think that this is very significant in the lives of the young people nowadays because they need to remember their past as well as need to know where they’re going in the future.”
Although the ladies did their best to win the judges’ hearts, it was Elsa Burgos’ winning personality and stage presence that put her on top.
Jacqueline Woods
“Were you surprised?”
Elsa Burgos, Reina de la Costa Maya 2002
“Well you can see that, because I was like, yeah I know I’m not one of…what! Like, me? Repeat it again please. I’m so, so happy, I can’t believe it and I started to cry. I don’t know if I heard well, so repeat it please, but I’m here.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What did you do to prepare yourself for the pageant?”
Elsa Burgos
“A lot of things. You have to be on diet, but here it’s impossible because all day you’re eating and eating and everything is great and I have to go do my exercises. I have two TV programmes in Mexico so I’m not afraid of the camera, that’s a good point for me, but I’m not so secure when I’m walking, I feel more secure talking, so I had to work on that. And I don’t know, have fun.”
…and having fun is exactly what the fair organisers are hoping will happen over the next three days.
Milo Paz, Jr., Director, Costa Maya Festival
“The importance of the fair was created because of a slow season that San Pedro experienced during the summer months, which are after April and October. So we wanted to boost the local economy by attracting our local Belizeans to come and visit San Pedro and enjoy one of the best festivals in Belize.”
But in the past two years the fair’s attendance has not met expectations and this year there are fewer stalls. But the organisers remain optimistic that the activity will pick up by Saturday night. A part of Thursday nights’ entertainment included performances by The San Pedro Dance Group.
The fun at San Pedro continues all weekend.
