She’s only eight years old but Azizi Juanita Hoy will get to do what many other Belizean girls dream of doing, representing Belize at an international beauty pageant. Hoy leaves tomorrow for the Dominican Republic where she’ll participate in the Miss Mini-Universe Pageant. As the name implies, it is a miss universe pageant for kids - but it won’t be a playground. There will be at least 26 contestants from countries across the world. Azizi was handpicked by Pageants Belize and today she made her first media appearance, appropriately, at school. She is a standard 2 student at Hummingbird Elementary School. She told us what it is like preparing for the Miss Mini-Universe.
Azizi Juanita Hoy, Miss Mini-Belize
“I feel honored to be Miss Mini-Belize.”
Keith Swift,
Are you looking forward to the Dominican Republic?
Azizi Juanita Hoy,
“Yes.”
Keith Swift,
How have you prepared for the pageant?
Azizi Juanita Hoy,
“I studied and exercised very hard to represent Belize.”
Keith Swift,
Tell us about your costume.
Azizi Juanita Hoy,
“It’s a national costume with the Caribbean Sea and the second largest barrier reef.”
Margaret Johnson, Executive Director – Pageants Belize
“It’s a pageant for kids between the ages of six and twelve and you have to be not just moral standing and beautiful face and all those things but intelligent. You have to be intelligent, you have to have good grades at school. So that is very important and Azizi is a straight A student as you know. She is very bright and she is very helpful to other kids. The pageant requires those things and Azizi fits that to a T.”
Keith Swift,
How was she chosen?
Margaret Johnson,
“Well I went to get something sewn at Felicita at Miss Doris Leiva and I saw the picture, she introduced me to the little girl via pictures and told me about her. I met her in her home and couldn’t think of anybody else that I would like to represent Belize on this short notice. We’re certain Azizi is going to come back with something. We don’t know what because there are several different areas the kids can compete in.”
The Mini Miss Universe Pageant takes place on November 25th in the Dominican Republic. And in other pageant news, Leilah Pandy – Miss Belize Earth – participated in the Miss Earth Pageant last week in Manila Philippines. She didn’t make the top 16 but she did leave with the people’s choice award; the environmentalist award; and she is in the running for the award for the best evening gown.
