It was a big hit last year and this year the Miss Big and Beautiful pageant is back. 6 ladies who are bold enough to parade their full size physiques and proud enough to say they are beautiful will compete in the pageant where big is in. The pageant will be held a week from tomorrow at the Bird's Isle but we got a preview today.
Jernice Reynolds, Contestant
"Skinny girls look out, we can do all that you can do and more."
They are big, bodacious, and, yes, beautiful - and these contestants in the Miss and Big Beautiful pageant say they'll prove it to you.
Therese Leiva, Contestant
"I am big. I would like the slim people know out there that not only slim people can do things, big and beautiful could do it too. I am physique, sexual, and everything. Come and see us."
Jernice Reynolds,
"I'll be doing the 'hot walk' and I will be showing you all what you want to see. Come out on the 29th because we will be shaking and moving and giving you a night of entertainment."
Susan Williams, Contestant
"I decided to enter this contest because not only thin bodies can do anything, also fat people can do everything and in this contest, size doesn't play any role. It is not the size, it is the way how you move it baby. It is the way how you move it."
But more than being big and beautiful -these women are confident.
Susan Williams,
"I know that I am beautiful and big and I am sexy."
Jernice Reynolds,
"My name is Jernice Reynolds and I am a big and beautiful woman as you can see. What makes me big and beautiful? Well excuse me, look at this...what more of this do you want to see."
Karen Acosta, Contestant
"I am big and beautiful and even sexy too."
Elena Arnold, Contestant
"I want to be just like the young girls them so if young girls could do it, older women could do it and bigger women can do it too."
Keith Swift,
So you consider yourself big and beautiful?
Elena Arnold,
"Of course, I am comfortable with my weight and I know I am big and beautiful and I am quite happy with the way I am."
The pageant is organized by Marina Wellcome - the leader of the Jump Street Posse Carnival Band. It is being held to raise funds.
Marina Wellcome, Organizer
"If you think last year was hot, last year isn't nothing to this year. This is super hot. They are very terrible on the 'hot walk,' they do a whole lot of shake your body movements and it is so surprising because they are big people and nowadays everybody feels like only small people can do all these new dancing that come in and thing. Well my girls are ready for it, they are ready for anything.
This year, like I was telling you, I went crazy. I normally have just a junior band, I had a senior band in 1999 and it didn't go that bad, but I hope that this one goes much better than that time. So this year we are e having a junior and senior band and the money that is fundraised from this event is going towards the carnival costumes. So I hope everybody comes out, enjoy themselves, and meet these beautiful young ladies doing their thing because when I say they are hot - they are hot."
And these beauty queens are more than just full sized, they are stout-hearted - turning what was often a subject to shame into a cause for fame.
Tara Morgan, who wasn't available this afternoon, is the sixth contestant. The pageant on Friday June 29th begins at 7:30 at the Bird's Isle. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children, and $15 for reserved seating.
