Ambergris Caye is gearing up for the biggest international festival in Belize, The International Costa Maya Festival®. The events kick off on Thursday, August 1st, and with the festival getting closer, the delegates competing in the International Reina de La Costa Maya® pageant have arrived in the country. The San Pedro Sun met up with the beauties at the Maya Island Air terminal in San Pedro Town and spoke to the delegates as they arrived.
Destinee Arnold – Miss Belize
Q – How do you feel to be Belize’s Delegate?
A – I am honored to be this country’s delegate. I wouldn’t want to be any other country’s delegate.
Q – What are you looking forward to as part of the La Riena de La Costa Maya Pageant?
A – I am looking forward to meeting all the girls; I am looking forward in getting to know them and of course competing. I want to bring the crown home.
Q – What are some of the strengths that you bring along with you?
A – I just bring confidence and I am very down to earth. I just bring myself.
Q – Any personal message to the people of San Pedro Town and Belize?
A – I just want to say hello to everyone and thank you for having me on your island. I am really honored to represent Belize and a big thank you to my sponsors and company, Crown of the Jewel. It has been an honor and beautiful journey and hopefully it’s going to have a happy ending.
Andrea Rojas– Miss Costa Rica
Q – How do you feel to be Costa Rica’s Delegate?
A – I am so proud to be representing my beautiful country Costa Rica! The land of Pura Vida!
Q – What are you looking forward to as part of the La Reina de La Costa Maya Pageant?
A – I hope to learn a lot of things, and know more about the Belize culture. I want to enrich my knowledge and try to be better as a woman and as a person.
Q – What are some of the strengths that you bring along with you?
A – I think I am a really kind, friendly person. It is really easy for me to talk to people and get to know new people. I believe this goes a long way in promoting our cultures/countries wherever we go. Apart from being a beauty queen – we are in a unique position to promote our countries and cultures, and applying that through friendly interactions is a strength I have.
Q – Any personal message to the people of San Pedro Town and Belize?
A – Thank you so much. I am so thankful to be here, it seems like such a beautiful place and I can’t wait to get to know more about it. I invite everyone to come out and enjoy the festivities.
Fatima Yolanda Mauricio Magandi – Miss El Salvador
Q – How do you feel to be El Salvador’s Delegate?
A – I am so proud to be representing my beloved country. I am proud of my people, my country and my Maya culture.
Q – What are you looking forward to as part of the La Reina de La Costa Maya Pageant?
A – I have many expectations, and of course, everyone who is here wants to win the crown. But beside that, I simply hope to enjoy this experience. I want to both enjoy and win.
Q – What are some of the strengths that you bring along with you?
A – Anyone can have physical beauty or intellectual beauty, but I think it is important to apply intelligence and a good attitude/ personality, as that surpasses the physical.
Q – Any personal message to the people of San Pedro Town and Belize?
A – Isla Bonita thank you so much for the warm welcome and the affection that has made us feel so at home. It has helped, not just me, but all the girls, by giving us confidence and making us open to enjoying this marvelous experience.
Alejandra Moralez – Miss Guatemala
Q – How do you feel to be Guatemala’s Delegate?
A – Its incredible and it’s a beautiful opportunity. I have been to Belize before and I just love this country. When I was asked to represent my country, Guatemala, it was an honor to return to Belize.
Q – What are you looking forward to as part of the La Reina de La Costa Maya Pageant?
A – I know I will have a good time, especially meeting the wonderful people – I know the warmth of the Belizean people. I have heard about the pageant before and I am sure I will have a good experience while in Belize.
Q – What are some of the strengths that you bring along with you?
A – Well, I am a very outgoing person and I love to meet new people. I can easily relate. Plus, I love to sing and model, so I think those will be my strengths.
Q – Any personal message to the people of San Pedro Town and Belize?
A – To the people of San Pedro Town I want to say that I am happy to be here. I expect to always take you in my heart. To my fellow Guatemalan living here, we are coming with everything we have.
Monica Alexis Elwing Gough – Miss Honduras
Q – How do you feel to be Honduras’ Delegate?
A – I feel really proud and I am going to do my best. I am going to show the world that Honduras and especially the Costa Maya and Mesoamerica countries have great beauty too. I really feel happy to be here…so far, so good.
Q – What are you looking forward to as part of the La Reina de La Costa Maya Pageant?
A – I hope everyone can come and support, not just me, but all of the other contestants. I am really looking to have fun and I want everyone to really enjoy the pageant.
Q – What are some of the strengths that you bring along with you?
A – It’s going to be a real big surprise. Everyone will have to come on over and attend the pageant to see what we have in store for them!
Q – Any personal message to the people of San Pedro Town and Belize?
A – I am very happy to be here and so I hope everything comes out great. I am personally inviting everyone to come out to the event on Thursday and have fun. We will be waiting to see you! Allí los espero!
Ariadna Judith Orellana Melendez– Miss Nicaragua
Q – How do you feel to be Nicaragua’s Delegate?
A – I feel great; I feel honored. I want to spend a really good time here in Belize, and hopefully take the crown back home.
Q – What are you looking forward to as part of the La Reina de La Costa Maya Pageant?
A – Well, I am just going to be myself and try to enjoy this experience. I look forward to becoming friends with the other girls. I am not looking them at competition, I see them as new friends.
Q – What are some of the strengths that you bring along with you?
A – I bring the salsa, the fire of Nicaraguan women; that’s what I bring to the pageant!
Q – Any personal message to the people of San Pedro Town and Belize?
A – I am thankful for the invitation to be here. I want to learn more about Belize, I can’t wait to explore! Thank you so much for the warm welcome!
Cleirys Velasquez – Miss Panama
Q – How do you feel to be Panama’s Delegate?
A – I am thrilled and excited to be representing my beloved Panama. I am so proud to have been chosen to represent my country.
Q – What are you looking forward to as part of the La Reina de La Costa Maya Pageant?
A – I am excited to be able to bring our cultures together. The pageant takes us back to our roots: the Maya culture. I think it is a way to bring our history to the forefront, and I am looking forward to seeing how we can bring this on stage.
Q – What are some of the strengths that you bring along with you?
A – I think that each of us has a special attribute that makes us unique in this competition. I think mine is charisma and positive attitude.
Q – Any personal message to the people of San Pedro Town and Belize?
A – Everyone is welcome to the festival, I am inviting all to come and see us on Thursday, August 1st. Thank you so much for the warm welcome, we appreciate it ever so much.
Artemisa Rivera Montañés – Mexico
Q – How do you feel to be Belize’s Delegate?
A – Very happy to be representing my country. This will be an experience that I will not forget and I am sure it will help me build experience for the future. I
Q – What are you looking forward to as part of the La Riena de La Costa Maya Pageant?
A – First of all, I look forward to have fun and enjoy the Belize. I also look forward to share my country with the rest of the delegates and to the people of this beautiful country. I am also coming with the intention to win the crown.
Q – What are some of the strengths that you bring along with you?
A – My strength is that I am always open to getting to know new places and people. I am always very honest about my conviction in life and share my views on issues. I am always open to having fun enjoy whatever I do and that is what makes me as a person.
Q – Any personal message to the people of San Pedro Town and Belize?
A – I want to thank everyone for their hospitality. Belize is truly beautiful. This is my first time to Belize and it is indeed one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Thanks once more for being warm and accommodating to me.
During the course of the week, the delegates will be engaged in several activities. Their first official public appearance was at Fido’s annual “Meet the beauties” event on the evening of Thursday, July 25th. The next public affair is the always-elegant and delightful Noche Tropical held at Ramon’s Village Resort on Saturday night. There, the delegates will get to enjoy a typical island beach party and will be officially presented to the public in attendance. They are also expected to enjoy some tours around the country where they get know and appreciate the islands, the sea, the ruins, lush rainforest and more importantly the culture.
The International La Reina de La Costa Maya Pageant is scheduled for Thursday August 1st at the Old Football Field starting at 7PM. The field has been undergoing major renovations, and it seems all systems are working overtime to ensure the grounds are ready in time for the festival.
We wish all the delegates the best of luck.
