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Calling all the former Queen of the Bay title holders between 2022 and 1946: Your name is now on display at the Memorial park among the many other Queens in Belizean history. The Queen of the Bay association held a small inauguration ceremony today for the unveiling of the plaque. Jomarie Lanza reports
Belize's National Queen of the Bay Pageant is a highly anticipated spectacle annually for Belizeans both at home and abroad.
Contestants from all six districts, in all the glitz and glamour, compete in up to four different categories that will determine the one and true Queen of the Bay to hold the title nationally. Their names become etched in history forever, and now those names finally have a home and are visible for all to see at the Memorial Park. The association today inaugurated a Queen of the bay plaque featuring the names engraved of all the past Queens of the Bay from 1946 to present.
Sherima Guity, Queen of the Bay President
"That is actually the dream that we had as Queens of the Bay. We got together and decided that we want a palace that we can call home to Queen of The Bay. We actually had a vote in our group chat and it was between three different places and of course the memorial park came in on top why because most of our queens have the memory of being crowned here at this very location and from the time i won in 2004 I knew that I was a part of history, I was proud to be a part of history but I couldn't go anywhere to see my name on that wall and we brought it to the committee. The Association of former Queens which includes many of the Queens who live abroad and of course who live here in Belize all pitched in to ensure that we could have made this plaque possible this year. it was supposed to be done last year but with of course everything comes with finance and the finance for the Queen of the bay pageant we get it from NCC and the business community but our queens give back each year. If a young lady is short of a shoe a dress they pitch in and this year we asked them very early we need to do this plaque so we are going to ask for this donation early on and then we are going to come back to you for donations for the pageant."
"Queen of the Bay is an emblem of freedom it is something that our Belizean people look forward to each year. And we have an unbroken line when it comes to Queen of the Bay and that means that every year even in hurricane, covid we pull off a queen of the bay pageant. Covid was the toughest it really had us look at the pageant from a different perspectives but we understand we are hope to the Belizean people and even with that now we are giving back."
The Queen from 1982-1983 shared with us how much the pageant has evolved over the past few decades.
Diana Jenkins, Former Queen of The Bay
"Over the years it has evolved especially from when i actually went up that was 41 years ago believe it or not. It now includes a talent section which I think is really important to showcase the intelligence of our young ladies. I think that its really important, back in my day we use to be crowned and after that we are shelved until the next year when we crown another queen."
"I think that it is important that our young delegates be mentors, role models for our youth and so by them choosing a platform, i've listened to the platform that they have and oh my gosh they are absolutely on point with a lot of them, the focus on education on sports on autism and crime so yes."
The National Queen of the Bay pageant will take place at the Civic Center on Saturday August 26th at 7:00Pm. Ticket prices start at $20 for General, $30 for reserved and $40 for Premium.
