A new Miss Belize will be chosen next Saturday September 15th but the competition for the crown begins tomorrow. There are a record 11 contestants this year and they arrived at the Princess Hotel this week. They've undergone two full days of training for the pageant and tomorrow night's the high fashion and swimsuit show. This afternoon 7NEWS stopped in at the pageant headquarters, the Princess Hotel, for a preview.
Keith Swift Reporting,
A fourth form student at St. Michael's College, a student studying international business at Galen University, this St. John's College Junior College student, and this primary school teacher from Rural Belize are four of the 11 contestants in the 2007 Miss Belize Pageant. Larrien Samuels is the SJC student.
Larrien Samuels, Contestant
"I think it is a wonderful way to represent this beautiful country."
Keith Swift,
You think you have what it takes to win?
Larrien Samuels,
"I definitely have what it takes because I am a very determined person and I know that once I set my mind to something, I will do and I would like to accomplish great things and this is one of them."
Jenine Nichole Thompson is a teacher at a school in Isabella Bank. She entered the contest on a dare from friends.
Jernine Thompson, Contestant
"It was a dare actually. I saw the poster and my friends dared me to enter and I've always been told I look like a Miss Belize contestant so I took up the challenge and haven't regretted it so far."
Keith Swift,
You think you have what it takes to win?
Jernine Thompson,
"Yes I do. I have the height, the build, and I think this pageant is about grace and intelligence as well and I am pretty sure I am not lacking in any of those department."
But for most contestants - it wasn't a dare. Galen University student Tanisha Vernon saw it as an opportunity.
Tanisha Vernon, Contestant
"I believe that it is an opportunity. It creates a lot of opportunities and it brings, it enhances self esteem for those young ladies that have low self esteem with themselves so it definitely builds confidence in one."
Keisha Daniels, Contestant
"I entered this pageant because I admire what past queens did, the duty that they had to take up and I believe that I have what it takes."
Melanie Lammey, Contestant
"I decided that it would be something for me to do, it would be a nice challenge and it would be a new experience, something different."
Iris Medina, Contestant
"It is something that I always wanted to do. I always admired the past delegates and I think it is a very prestigious pageant."
Flareda Belizaire, Contestant
"I went online, I was just browsing through and I always wanted to participate in the pageant so I just decided to sign up and I am lucky to be here."
Flareda was chosen from a pool of 49 applicants. Margaret Johnson is the executive director of Pageants Belize.
Magaret Johnson, Pageants Belize
"We have eleven girls, we have eleven young ladies participating. I think it is a bit more this year and also we had more applicants. We had 49 applicants so I think either they are getting more interested in it and also maybe the level of competition, the expectation from them is higher. But I am really proud with the group that we have. We've only had two days of rehearsals so far and as you can see, they are coming along so we expect a great show."
The girls are being trained by Opal Enriquez from Los Angeles.
Opal Enriquez, Choreographer
"Training wise, we are under a bit of a crunch right now, considering the fact that we did have the storm watch and we're about five days behind in training so the girls have long hours and they have a lot of work to do in a small amount of time but so far they're doing very well. They are catching on fast and they're doing the best they can and they all want to win so its working out well."
Your first chance to see all eleven will be tomorrow night at the Princess for the swimsuit show.
Tomorrow night's show begins at 8 pm. The two contestants not featured in the story are Telecia Swift from Belmopan and Kenya Brooks from Cayo.
