The Costa Maya Festival doesn't start until next weekend but the contestants for the beauty pageant are already here and caught up with a hectic agenda. The queens from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and host country Belize spent their first full day yesterday in Cayo. This morning it was to on San Pedro via the 'Reef Rocket.' We spoke to them before they jetted off.
Maria Josee Zavala, Miss Guatemala
{Translation] "She says that it is a beautiful place. They arrived yesterday and they are very happy. She hopes to win but what she wants most of all is to take home good memories of Belize and its people."
Daniela LaCayo, Miss Nicaragua
"I love Belize and this experience has been great for me and the people tell me the beaches are great, are wonderful and I want to know them."
Keith Swift,
Do you think you can win?
Daniela LaCayo,
{Translation] "Of course she feels that she can win this. First she is very competitive, secondly she wants to represent her country very good, she feels that she can do a good job representing not only her country but Central American women."
Saida Centeno, Miss Honduras
{Translation] "She is very happy to be here. The treatment she has gotten so far has been very good and she is very grateful for that treatment. She says that she is coming with a 100% to take back the crown to Honduras."
Elena Martinez, Miss El Salvador
{Translation] "She says that first of all she wants to say hi to everybody that is watching and listening to your news and she wants to say that she is very happy to be in Belize because the treatment she has received has been one that's very warm and she again wants to thank everybody for that."
Maria Jeffrey, Miss Belize
"I am enjoying myself so far. I am actually glad to be the host participant in this pageant because right now I am getting to show the girls what Belize has and what Belize has to offer and I know that they are enjoying themselves right now."
Keith Swift,
What do you expect the next week to be like?
Maria Jeffrey,
"I think it is going to be pretty hectic because we will be beginning our practices starting from today and then we will be practicing everyday."
Keith Swift,
What do you think your chances are of winning?
Maria Jeffrey,
"Well I think I have a fair chance along with everybody else. It is all up to the judges as usual."
Miss Mexico Isis Barrerz was scheduled to arrive in San Pedro this afternoon. The 2007 Miss Costa Maya will be selected on Friday August 2nd.
