There are no roads, but all boats and planes lead to San Pedro this weekend for the annual Costa Maya Festival. The four night event started last night when seven of the most beautiful women in all of Central America participated in the 14th annual International Costa Maya Festival. Our colleagues from the San Pedro Sun were there. Kainie Manuel has this report.
Kainie Manuel Reporting, For[San Pedro Sun]
San Pedro is once again a buzz as the 14th annual International Costa Maya Pageant gets underway. The weekend offers a chance to enjoy a variety of cultural food and beverages.
The opening night of the festival featured the seven beauty queens from Central America. Representing Belize, Miss Opal Enriquez; from Honduras, Kimberly McNab; Guatemala's Aida Estrada; Irma Dimas from El Salvador; Johanna Fernandez from Costa Rica; Anasha Campbell from Nicaragua and Maria Jose Rosado Solis from Mexico. And of course the reigning Miss Costa Maya, Marisol Rojas Avila.
Kainie Manuel, San Pedro Sun
How has your second trip to Belize been?
Marisol Rojas Avila, Miss Costa Maya 2004
"It has been marvelous, the way people look at you... their smiles... they wave at you on the street... - it is the beauty and warmth of the people that I love the most."
In addition to the pageantry of the beauty contest with the bathing suit competition, the cultural display, and the formal wear competition. Performances from the Ballet Folklorico del Ayunatmiento de Othon P. Blanco and San Pedro Dance Company entertained the crowd. Lilian Villanueva, Mexican TV Personality and Michel Olivarez, international model, shared the honor of hosting the event.
Michel Olivarez, Host
"Of course, I love the sea, the weather, the beach... I truly am in Paradise."
Ultimately, only one of these beauties could be crowned, Miss Costa Maya 2005.
[Host Announcing: "And the winner is, Miss Costa Rica"]
Kainie Manuel,
How do you feel?
Johanna Fernandez, Miss Costa Maya 2005
"Well I feel right now like I am heaven. Just imagine its my birthday and besides that I won the crown. This is unbelievable."
Kainie Manuel,
Did you ever expect this to happen?
Johanna Fernandez,
"To be honest I am a very very positive woman so since the very beginning I thought I could have the chance as well as my competitors so I am always positive and I am very happy."
Kainie Manuel,
Does this make you want to come back to San Pedro more?
Johanna Fernandez,
"Of course you will see me tomorrow because I talked to my dad yesterday and I told him I went scuba diving and he told me we're going to go for sure for his birthday which is in two months."
Kainie Manuel,
Had you ever heard of San Pedro?
Johanna Fernandez,
"Well Madonna's song is popular but I didn't know it was such a paradise. I am in love with San Pedro...a kiss to everybody."
Of course Miss Belize was the crowd favorite. She made her country proud as she was named first runner up.
Opal Enriquez, Second Place
"I am just ecstatic, I'm very very happy."
Kainie Manuel,
Congratulations on placing second. Did you expect it?
Opal Enriquez,
"Actually no I didn't expect it at all. It was pretty much a shock to me but of course I didn't really expect to be here either so I'm still trying to come down from the high of just being in San Pedro for the festival."
Kainie Manuel,
What was your highlight of tonight? What was the one thing that you loved the most?
Opal Enriquez,
"Of the evening I loved the fact that there were so many people here to celebrate this grand event, both the tourists and the locals as well and the people from the different Mundo Maya countries who came out to be a part of this festival. I think that is what I loved the most."
The crowning of Miss Costa Rica as this year's Costa Maya Queen was just the beginning of all the festivities planned for this year. So if you have no opportunity to make it to La Isla Bonita this year, mark your calendar for next year 'cause there's surely lots more surprises coming your way. I am Kainie Manuel from San Pedro for the San Pedro Sun and Channel 7 News.
The Costa Maya Festival will continue all weekend. Tonight there will be a number of cultural performances and Saturday night's big event is the concert by the Kumbia Kings.
