Ms. Ladyville pageant scheduled for Saturday

With over three thousand residents, Ladyville can rightfully lay claim to the nation’s largest village. And when you have the title of “laage” in Belize you just have to have your very own beauty queen.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
On Saturday one of these five young ladies will be crowned Miss Ladyville 2006. The contestants represent the various communities of the village and surrounding area. While each of them would like to win, the event is not just about competition.

Miss New Site Raquel Benavides hopes to make positive changes in the lives of her peers who she says are at risk.

Raquel Benavides, Miss New Site
?You see them on the streets like they have nobody to support them in their homes. You see them on the streets either doing something.?

Wilson Grinage, Choreographer, Miss Ladyville
?It?s a fund raiser for the village. The village needs a lot of little things done and we do not have enough finance to do it.?

?Improving the drainage, assisting with help to the needy families and at Christmas time helping the kids. Like giving them a token, like a gift or something like that.?

The contestants have been getting a lot of encouragement from the reigning Miss Ladyville, fifteen year old Janeal Prince. Although it was a year ago, Prince still gets excited when she remembers when her name was called.

Janeal Prince, Miss Ladyville 2005/2006
?Well, I was praying and when they said the winner is Janeal Prince, I said yes and then I started to scream and laugh.?

While some of the contestants are rookies others have been down this road before. Miss Mitchell Estate, Janine Henry was first runner up in the 2005 pageant.

Janine Henry, Miss Mitchell Estate
?It was fun last year. I did not know that I would have had a lot of supporters and when–the night of the thing I got hmmm. It?s fun, it?s great and when I found out that I was first runner up I get excited.?

And Miss Lords Bank? Vanessa Dawson says it is her third competition and she is on a mission to capture as many titles as possible. Why?

Vanessa Dawson, Miss Lords Bank
?Well I guess I will never get enough, because if I can capture all the crowns, I will.?

?Because I just love being a role model for the kids. I think being a role model is that you have so many kids that look up to you, and always want to be like you. I love when people try to be like me.?

But dressing up and walking in heels is not what drove Miss Beverly Hills to the stage. In fact Nicole Grinage, who does not like the spotlight, admits she is far more comfortable on the sports field.

Nicole Grinage, Miss Beverly Hills
?And so everybody wants to know why is the reason I entered because I am usually a shy person more of an athletic girl.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?So why did you decide to enter??

Nicole Grinage
?Well I guess you have to change sometime.?

?Well it has been good the shyness has been going. Meeting the girls has been fun. We had a lot of fun doing it, but I do not know about the night though.?

Miss Vista del mar Kayla Requena is not nervous about the night of the pageant even though she got off to a late start. It has been only three weeks since she entered but this contestant says she has been putting in the hours.

Jacqueline Godwin
?A lot of people are not aware of all the work that goes on in the pageant it?s only on the night they see all these beautiful young ladies on the stage and it looks all easy but a lot of work actually goes into preparing you young ladies for that night??

Kayla Requena, Miss Vista Del Mar
?Yes, mam we do a lot of work. We have to do a lot of practice because even when I go home I have to practice. So I have a lot of practice to do.?

The pageant choreographer Wilson Grinage has been making the rounds with the contestants. He says the show has been planned so the entire family can have a great time.

Wilson Grinage
?A lot of surprises. They should expect very good talents. Drama, acting, singing and the whole deal in this pageant.?

The Miss Ladyville pageant takes centre stage on the village’s basketball court on Saturday night. Tickets will be sold at the gate for seven dollars reserve, five dollars general admission.