In a time when pageants come by the bushel-ful - the Queen of the Bay has remained the gold standard – that emblem of freedom as the famous song calls it – and more than that, the queen isn't chosen in anyone's living room! The 63rd Queen of the Bay will be chosen on Saturday at the City Center and there is a crowded field of ten who want to wear the prestigious crown. Keith Swift met them today.
Keith Swift Reporting,
One of these ten young ladies will be the 62nd Queen of the Bay. Among the ten there is a primary school teacher, seven junior college and university students, and two reigning queens. The one thing they have in common is that they want Ronnie Coye's, the current Queen of the Bay's crown.
Marilyn Flowers, Miss Belize City
"It is a traditional pageant and there is so much respect with this pageant so I thought that, and then you get to express your culture and everything, so I thought this pageant would be great. My New Year's resolution was to take on a challenge of things I haven't done before so I decided to enter the pageant, not only because it is a prestigious pageant and a pageant of distinction but also because I would like to express myself better and I think the pageant would be a good way to do that."
Idolly Saldivar, Miss Belmopan
"It is a very prestigious and traditional pageant and I want to be a part of Belize's history so I decided to join this pageant and I also wanted to meet new friends and be a role model to all the young Belizean women out there."
Bernadine Tillett, Queen of the West
"I decided to enter the Queen of the Bay Pageant because of my mother, she won 1984 and it is a prestigious pageant and very historical event. I am already an emblem representing and even if I don't win it, which I will have confidence in, I can do my best because I am already a queen."
Camille Ottley, Miss Caribbean Shores
"I decided to enter the pageant because I have a profound passion for pageantry and also because I thought it would be a great way for me to show my patriotism to my country."
Courtney Casanova, Miss Corozal Bay
"It is a prestigious pageant and it has always been a dream of mine, from since I was growing up, to participate in this pageant."
Kayla Arnold, Miss Queen's Square
"And while there is a Miss USA, a Miss Jamaica, Miss Guatemala – there isn't another Queen of the Bay."
Natasha Hernandez, Mesopotamia
"I decided to be a part of the Queen of the Bay Pageant this year because it is a very respectable pageant and it is a pageant that reminds us of our own Belizean history."
The contestants spent part of their morning in City Hall with Mayor Zenaida Moya. They had a sit down chat and then posed for pictures with arguably – the countries most prominent female. And the visit with Moya was welcomed because these young ladies say there is more to them than just their pretty faces.
Karima Card, Miss Black Orchid
"This isn't a beauty pageant, it is show we are Belize, the candidates are Belize. We are the emblem of freedom for our country and it is not just another beauty pageant where you come and see people walk around in swimsuits. You get to see what Belize has to offer."
Annylyn Polonio, Miss Lake I
"I am just really proud to be a part of Belize's history and making a positive contribution, especially from Lake Independence. We've often be stigmatized so I think it is about time we do something positive."
Kayla Arnold,
"Personally I believe I have a lot of qualities, I am a very outgoing person, I think that is one of the main ones, I always strive for excellence and I try my best to do everything that is positive and to be a positive role model for others. I would encourage people to come out to the pageant because not only is it a prestigious event but also it is a landmark in our history and it sets us apart from every other culture and every other country and like the song says, an emblem of freedom for whoever calls themselves Belizean."
Alma Rochester, Miss Corozal
"I am bringing my game and I am positively sure I can do what I can do to win. That would be awesomely excited.
It will be a really really great, it will be a great show. I know all of us we are ready to do this thing and we are willing to give the best show, to let everyone enjoy so I would definitely like them to come out."
Pageant night is Saturday.
Saturday's pageant starts at 7 at the City Center. And though ten contestants might seem like a lot – pageant veterans say they have had up to 13 contestants.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
