Contestants gear up for “Miss Y”
It started out 7 years ago as something of a lark. Today the “Miss Y” contest may be the most popular pageant in Belize. This afternoon News Five’s Janelle Chanona dropped by a rehearsal session where the contestants are warming up for Saturday’s big event.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
On Saturday night, 6 extraordinary ladies from all over Belize will grace the stage at the Belize City Centre to wow the crowd and try to win the coveted title of Miss Y. Today, News Five stopped in at rehearsals to check out the chicks.
Beverley Smith-Lopez, Host, Miss Y
“It’s different. You meet a completely different set of women, they are mothers, and they are grandmothers. They have and energy and you have to keep your shoulders up because they have their shoulders up. They come with gusto, they come with wisdom, they come with talents, and they come knowing exactly the messages they want to tell the people. They come for fun, they come with the purpose that they want to participate and continue in the program to help suffice the YWCA because this is all for fundraising. So they know it’s not I must win, but I will do my best to win. They know the funds raised out here that night, is to help the young people and that is what makes it so very special. And of course as you can see from the rehearsal, this year we are having a crowd that will mash up the civic.”
Louise Paget, Contestant #1
“Most naturally, I am a fun person. I am in it for the fun.”
Janelle Chanona
“You don’t feel funny on the stage?”
Louise Paget
“Oh, no I am used to it because from I was a child, when I go to school, sister always pick me for everything.”
Leolin Clare, Contestant #2
“Well I’ll try to do my thing. That’s what I want to do, give the crowd something to laugh about.”
Janelle Chanona
“What’s your secret weapon to win?”
Leolin Clare
“The secret weapon? Punta.”
Wincent Milligan, contestant #3
“I love it, only because I can’t come back again when they have a next one because they say when you go up one time, you can’t come back again. But if it were so, I would have come back. I love it, to shake out mi old body.”
Janelle Chanona
“What are you going to be thinking? Are you going to be nervous on Saturday night?”
Wincent Milligan
“No man. No. I no nervous.”
Elaine Perez, Contestant #4
“If they want to come up, do like I do because we have it for the young ones and we have it for the old. And if I can do it, you can do it. Let us try and do something because when we are young, having children we cannot do anything. Now that they are grown, we can just take out what we have in us.”
Idolly Williams, Contestant #5
“I am strong. I am thinking about nothing but just to go up there and do my thing win, lose or draw.”
Janelle Chanona
“Where did you learn to dance like that?”
Idolly Williams
“Me? I learn to dance when I was at…I use to go to practice dance at Mr. Natty Grant, who died. We use to go to the practice dance by Liberty Hall.”
Grace Coleman, Contestant #6
“I wanted to the opportunity to give my people the message of my speech, to give them hope because God is able and I know God is going to bring us through in Belize City. This is a beautiful city.”
Beverley Smith Lopez
“They all get a trophy and they are all winners. They all get a sash for something very outstanding within them.”
Organisers for the contest are asking everyone to please make an effort to be on time. The pageant gets started at 7:00 PM at the Belize City center this Saturday. Tickets are available at the YWCA on St. Thomas Street.
