Miss Universe Belize, Preparing for the International Pageant
Miss Belize Universe, Destinee Arnold arrived in the country today and hit the ground running. During her time here, she is undertaking a number of appointments as she prepares for the international Miss Universe to be held in December. The Belizean beauty is taking on violence against women, but today visited with the Sadie Vernon High School to share some words with the students for drug awareness week. Here is Duane Moody with a report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Miss Universe Belize Destinee Arnold has been making waves on online social media polls across the region and internationally. The twenty-six-year-old Belizean beauty touched down in the Jewel this morning and got straight into action. She is here for an official shoot to showcase the country for the Miss Universe pageant which, as has been recently announced, will be held on December eighth in the U.S.; the exact location has not been revealed. Even with a packed itinerary, Arnold stopped in at the Sadie Vernon High School to address the young people for drug awareness week.
Destinee Arnold
Destinee Arnold, Miss Universe Belize 2019
“We know a lot of our violence is tied to drug use. So it is important for us to begin that cultural shift; to kinda demonise drugs so that we don’t have to allow our youth to become susceptible to it. So by talking to them, seeing where they stand and making them aware of it is that first step in that cultural shift.”
Since winning the pageant on September sixth, Arnold has been doing several photo and video shoots on her road to the international stage, while balancing her full time career as property claims field adjuster for home restoration in the insurance industry which is a male dominated field. Arnold says that she has been preparing for this level of pageantry her entire life and is dead set on making history once again for the country on the Miss Universe stage.
Destinee Arnold
“They just announced the date of Miss Universe as December eighth in the United States so the pressure is on. I have been working with multiple coaches, making sure that I am keen on all of the global issues, making sure that I know my application inside and out so that I am ready for that interview because as you all may know, if you don’t nail the interview, you don’t make the top twenty. So that has been my main focus.”
The national costume and evening gown are among the highlights of the pageant. Last year, Belize gave homage to the country’s Mayan heritage; so what will Arnold be rocking this year? While we know that the Miss Universe Belize organization has paired Destinee with top designers, she was tight-lipped about revealing too many details.
Destinee Arnold
“You are trying to get me in trouble, letting our secrets. All I can say is that the national costume is going to be a reflection of Belize’s beauty. When you think of Belize, you are going to think of my costume; when you think of my costume, you are going to think of Belize. So that’s all I can say about that. I can’t give off too many secrets. As far as the evening gown; that’s yet to be announced; that’s a surprise as well. But it is going to make sure that it is complementing my body, complementing my spirit because that’s just another way that I can communicate with the judges about who I am, what I represent and what Belize brings to the table.”
Miss Universe is about the inner beauty; the confidently beautiful woman and the causes they champion. Arnold is advocating for an end to gender-based violence in Belize and has partnered with Hope for Life in the west to help women take care of their families.
Destinee Arnold
“One of the main issues in Belize right now is violence against women. And if you’ve studied the cycle of violence, one of the main stages is economic dependency so my cause is trying to target that in all aspects. One of which is working with the Hope for Life foundation that is a pregnancy health centre so we are aiding women in being able to take care of their families.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
