Big and Beautiful pageant to take Belize by storm

Beauty pageants are as Belizean as rice and beans, but next weekend, one such show is out to break away from tradition and start a whole new trend. News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Next Friday night, the Belizean pageant scene will never be the same as six Belize City women will vie for the first ever Miss Big and Beautiful crown.

Kenecia Velasquez, Contestant
?My name is Kenecia Velasquez, proudly representing the dynamic Pickstock Division.?

Janelle Chanona
?Kenecia why are you doing this pageant??

Kenecia Velasquez
?Well to me it is a challenge to encourage more plus size girls to come out and have fun. We can do anything those slim girls can do. We have the talent, the ambition, and the chance to do it. If you want it go at it. Don?t give up ? aim for it.?

Charlotte Vasquez, Contestant
?Come out on the twenty fifth, come and see us do our thing.?

Janelle Chanona
?What people wah see when they go to this pageant??

Charlotte Vasquez
?All sorts a thing. We might swing at the top or heng at the bottom. I?m always part … no, I?m always the star of the party. Everybody wa seh oh she is at it again.?

Janelle Chanona
?You think pageants are a good thing for Belize?

Anika Standford, Contestant
?Yes ma?m.?

Janelle Chanona
?Why??

Anika Standford
?Because everybody get deh time fu show whe they have.?

Janelle Chanona
?What will you show people??

Anika Standford
?My talent.?

Trecia Morris, Contestant
?I have a surprise for the people fu mek the people come out and enjoy themselves. We have enough surprise for unu. It wah worth unu money.?

Shomae Garbutt, Contestant
?I decided to do this pageant, because I want to be a role model to big girls.?

Janelle Chanona
?What is the message you want to send to little girls who might only be seeing skinny people out there??

Shomae Garbutt
?The bigga the better. We can do the same thing that they can do.?

According to pageant coordinator Marina Welcome, proceeds of the event will go towards the Jump Street Posse carnival group.

Marina Welcome, Pageant Coordinator
?We have a problem right raising money right now for the costumes. So they came up with the idea for me to plan this show. They are going all out, and they are getting their own prizes. All I had to go was book the place, and try and help them get everything together. I know they are ready for Friday night.?

Janelle Chanona
?What is the message you think this big and beautiful competition will send to the wider society??

Marina Welcome
?What happen is that all the pageants is about skinny people, and it is time for Belize to know that there are big and beautiful people out there to. They can do, I think, even better than the small people. I am telling you this pageant has a lot of surprises. Some of them are acting a little shy right now, but when they practice it is another matter. So after we turn the roof upside down at the Bird?s Isle Friday night, the dance will get on its way at the Bellevue Hotel.?

Janelle Chanona
?Anything else you want to highlight??

Marina Welcome
?Please everybody come out and support us. It is a pageant that you don?t want to miss. There are a lot of giveaways and there are a lot of surprises. Check them gial out in dem swimsuit.?

Yes, she did say swimsuits. The show will take place at the Birds Isle next Friday at seven.

Janelle Chanona Reporting for News Five.

The sixth participant in the pageant is Schawanie Stanford. Tickets are on sale at five dollars for kids and ten for adults and can be purchased at the Queen Square Health Centre on Raccoon Street or from the contestants.