Belikin calendar first of its kind

Whether it’s because Belizean women are shy or Belizean photographers lack talent is not clear. In any case there has never been a calendar showcasing this country’s undeniably attractive women…Until now that is. Belize Brewing has done the deed and it’s up to the public to decide if they’ve succeeded. But enough talk, let the pictures speak for themselves.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

The models all displayed courage to pose for a publication that women may criticize, but most men will proudly hang on the wall. But other than pretty faces and firm bodies, we decided to find out who are these women that are burning up inside the pages of the Belikin 2001 calendar.

Richard Holder, Photographer

“Hilly Martinez, the manager of Belize Brewing, wanted the calendar to have only Belizean girls on it. That?s one of the main points of creating this calendar, that they would be all Belizeans that that they would be a diverse mix of the kinds of people we have in Belize.”

Kimani Barrow, November

“Kimani does hair. She works at Mapye?s Beauty Salon. I do hair on Sundays and Mondays on my own. I basically work from Tuesday to Saturday at Mapye?s and Sundays and Mondays for myself. I have two kids by the way, and I am still looking good in a calendar.”

Denise Diaz, September

“I?m a student nurse practicing at Karl Heusner. I spend most of my days poking people with needles. I am a mother of a four year old child.”

Parveen Williams, May

“Full time student at the University of Belize. I am a part time employee at Benny?s Wholesale on the Northern Highway. I am a business administration student. I am currently pursuing my bachelors and I am supposed to be finished at the end of next year, next summer.”

Lesly Miranda, July

“I specialize in different types of nails…I normally do acrylic nails, gel wraps, sculptured nails, reinforcement of natural nail tips with acrylic or natural gel.”

Heather Jones, October

?I own my own salon, which is Jonze Unisex Salon. I do basically everything. I do makeup, haircuts, perms, styles, facials, massage, pedicure, manicure, acrylics, everything.?

Most of the models do not lead extravagant lives. They pay bills, have plenty of responsibilities and go to work just like the rest of us.

Denise Diaz

“A typical day is get up, take Perry to school, if I?m not working I come back home and I do my housework in the morning, go pick him up and by the time pick him up from school, I have to get myself ready for work and then I just go and drop him off at the babysitter.?

Lesly Miranda

“I am a hard working person. I was in Guatemala for five months studying to become a nail technician. Before that, I was helping around in the restaurant and hotel business. At this time, most of the time I?d say I?m busy here working from Monday?s to Saturday’s.”

Heather Jones

“At first I was hesitant, but then I decided to do it because I said you know what, not because I?m a mother that means I can?t do things like this, I can?t model, I can?t have myself on a calendar. But it was a very good experience and I encourage any other young girl out there who would want to do it.”

Richard Holder

“I think for the most part we just had to speak to the girls and assure them that this is going to be a tasteful calendar and it took a degreed of trust and everyone is very happy with the results. I think the results speak for themselves. People could see and they?ll enjoy this calendar and I don?t think anyone will get a negative feeling from it. It?s very pleasant, it?s very tasteful.”

Whether or not you drink Belikin, you will surely appreciate these Belizean beauties for their personalities as well as their style locked inside the calendar’s pages. Reporting For News 5, Jose Sanchez.

Hilly Martinez of Belize Brewing says that the first set of calendars will be given to customers who sell their products. After that they will consider marketing it to the public. So in the mean time, if you want to see the girls, you might have to visit your favorite bar… or, if you’re wired to the web, you can find all twelve months in living colour at channel5belize.com.