The Miss San Pedro pageant is set for the 31st of August and anticipation is high following the announcement of the names of the six contestants vying for the prestigious title. The six contestants were presented to the media at a small gathering at the official sashing ceremony. The event was organized by the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) on Monday August 5th at El Divino Restaurant and the six contestants were accompanied by their parents and their main sponsors.
The contestants are Miss Yanira Lara sponsored by Fido’s Restaurant and Bar, Miss Gabriela Varelasponsored by Jaguar’s Temple Nite Club, Jordana Segura sponsored by Ramon’s Village Resort, Venancia Choc sponsored by Captain Shark’s, Shantell Pascasio sponsored by Southwind Properties and Solani Graniel sponsored by Castillo’s Hardware.
Speaking at the official sashing, Mayor of San Pedro Town Daniel Guerrero applauded the braveness of the six contestants and congratulated the sponsors for their support. “It is important for us at the SPTC to elect a queen every year. Let me say that all the contestants are queens, however only one can be Miss San Pedro. We want the contestants to have fun and enjoy the events leading up to the pageant. The SPTC has been working hard so that every year it becomes bigger and better. I just want to wish each of the contestants all the best,” said the Mayor.
The contestants were sashed by their sponsors at the event, after which they had the opportunity to take pictures and interact with the invitees. The San Pedro Sun had the opportunity to speak with the six contestants.
Yanira Lara is a 19 year old gastronomy student at the Universidad UNID in Chetumal Quintana Roo, Mexico. She hopes to be a role model and a good example to teenagers. “If I should become the next Miss San Pedro, I want to lead a campaign against bullying and alcohol abuse amongst teenagers,” said the young and talented Lara.
Meanwhile Gabriela Varela, a 20 year old part time masseuse and accounting student at San Pedro Junior College, said being Miss San Pedro is something she had always wanted to be. When asked what would be one of her main goals she would like to accomplish if she should become the next Miss San Pedro, Varela responded “I want to advocate for activities that young people can get involved in, such as sports and even movie nights, something currently not available to our youth.”
The youngest contestant is 16 year old Jordana Segura, a third form student of San Pedro High School. The young teenager explained that while she would use her position to advocate for youth involvement in community activities, her objectives would be to lead the charge first. “Miss San Pedro will allow me to be a role model in my community. I also want to demonstrate that pageantry is not about degrading ourselves as women, but to show and display our inner beauty,” said a confident Segura.
Venancia Choc, 19, is also a third form student at the San Pedro High School and wants to become a role model by encouraging young ladies to build their self esteem. “By being Miss San Pedro I want to show our young ladies that we need to be strong. One of the main thing however is to encourage them to have higher self esteem and prove to the world that young people can become productive citizens,” said Choc.
Shantel Pascacio, 19, is a former Miss Lions and a recent graduate of San Pedro Junior College. She is looking at the pageant as a stepping stone in accomplishing her dreams. According to Pascacio, she wants to become a professional model and participate in future pageants. “As a community oriented person I would use the position of Miss San Pedro to expand my passion; that of service to my community,” explained Pascacio.
Solani Graniel is 17 years old, and is currently a student at Saint John’s College Junior College. “As a born Sanpedrana I have seen my island change,” said Solani. “I want to make a difference in the community I call home. I want to expand my involvement with the youth of the island. I want to get more involved in activities with young people and help them overcome some of the challenges they currently face,” explained Graniel.
Speaking at the event, Area Representative and Minister of Tourism and Culture Manuel Heredia congratulated the young girls and committed his support to the pageant as one of the events leading up to the September Celebrations on the island.
The SPTC has set up the Miss San Pedro Committee who is tasked with overseeing the logistic, organizing and preparation of the girls, coming up with events leading up to the pageant and even promoting the event. The pageant is scheduled for Saturday August 31st. The San Pedro Sun wishes all the contestants the best of luck!
