Junior Miss Independence Pageant at the Bliss
Six girls, ages eight to eleven, believe they have what it takes to take home the crown and the title of Independence Day Junior Miss 2011-2012. The annual pageant is one of several fundraisers held by the group, Concerned Belizean Women, to provide assistance to needy women and children. We caught up with the aspiring beauty queens as they prepared for this weekend’s pageant at the Bliss, which will include dancing, singing and plenty more entertainment. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.
Delahnie Bain, Reporting
That’s just a small preview of what the six contestants in the Independence Day Junior Miss pageant will be brining to the stage on Sunday. It’s a pageant with a purpose and these vibrant little ladies are a part of an important fund raising initiative to help the less fortunate.
Birdy Francis, Chairperson, Concerned Belizean Women
Birdy Francis
“The pageant is being sponsored by Concerned Belizean Women. It will be right here at the Bliss this coming Sunday on the twenty-first of August at six p.m. The tickets are only ten dollars and you can buy them right here at the Bliss. I’m hoping everybody will say we can count on them because we do good work. Concerned Belizean Women donates all the money that they make to women and children who are disenfranchised. So please say we can count on you. We would really appreciate it if you would come out. We know the weather is kind of acting up but the Lord is going to be gracious and give us good weather so please come out.”
We met five of the young contestants at rehearsals today and they come with big personalities and even bigger ambitions.
Kaitlyn Faux
Kaitlyn Faux, Miss Corozal
“My name is Caitlynn Fox and I am eleven years old. My hobbies are singing and dancing. My ambition is to become an interior designer and my Belizean proverb to you is “no cut off yoh nose fi spite yoh face” and I am Miss Corozal.”
Tyra Humes, Miss Orange Walk
Tyra Humes
“Buenas noches ah todos mi nombre es Tara Humes. I am eleven years old. I am attending — Methodist School. My hobbies are dancing reading and playing sports. When I grow up, I want to be one of the best teachers Belize ever had.”
Lenique Bol
Lenique Bol, Miss Ambergris Caye
“Mi nombre es Lenique Dana Marie Bol and I am ten years old, representing the beautiful island of Ambergris Caye. My hobbies are dancing and singing and designing clothes and jewelry. I am inspired to be a fashion designer.”
Jayra Young, Miss Stann Creek
Jayra Young
“My name is Jayra Alexandria Young, I am proudly representing the beautiful Stann Creek District. I am an energetic eight year old Saint John Vianney student who loves to read, dance and express myself through arts. My dream is to become a cardiologist.”
Alliyah Mauriano
Alliyah Mauriano
“My name is Alliyah Sherise Mauriano. I am eight years old also a proud student of Wesley Methodist School. My future aspiration is to become a teacher. My hobbies include reading, singing and dancing.”
According to the chairperson for Concerned Belizean Women, Birdy Francis, the pageant is a mix of culture and education.
Birdy Francis
“This is the third annual Independence Day Junior Miss Pageant and we decided to do the pageant because pageants are an easy way to make money to give people who really need it. Even the high schools and the grammar schools are doing pageants because it’s a fun way and the children like it. And what we do at concerned Belizean Women, we don’t exploit the children, we don’t have swimsuits and risqué costumes that they would wear. Everything is cultural and educational.”
Delahnie Bain for News Five.
The sixth contestant, Chante Nicholas, was absent from rehearsals today.
