- Miss Belize
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Miss Belize is the title given to the winner(s) of beauty pageants held yearly in Belize to select a national beauty ambassador to represent Belize at various international pageants such as Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss International, Miss Supranational, and Miss Latin America to name a few. Miss Belize Universe is the highest regarded beauty pageant title in Belize.
In the early years, there was one pageant held yearly to select a Belizean representative for the Miss Universe pageant, with either that same winner or a runner-up representing Belize at Miss World. Recently there have been the emergence of different pageants to select representatives for the different international pageants as opposed to just one pageant with several winners.
Some of the major pageant companies and organizations include Pageants Belize Ltd. (Michael Arnold); Queen of the Bay Committee (Emma Boiton); Queen of the Jewel Ltd. (Opal Enriquez); Belize International Pageants Ltd. (Darlene Clarke Campbell); Leilah Pandy Enterprises Pageantry & Modeling (LPELL) (Leilah Pandy, former Miss Belize); & Teens Belize Organization (Kenny & Tracey Jacobs).
Even though Belize's performance at international pageants has been less than stellar, Belize's presence at regional pageants. such as Miss Costa Maya International, has been respectable, garnering two winners and a few finalists. Beauty ambassadors who have achieved some success for Belize include Sarita Diana Acosta, Opal Enriquez, Leilah Anne Magdalena Pandy, Maria Jeffery, Azizi Juanita Hoy, and Liliana Mia Nuñez.
In 2008, one of the biggest controversies arose. Miss Belize Universe 2008, Melissa Tanisha Vernon held a press conference in March in which various queens competing under Pageants Belize banner – Miss Belize Universe 2007-08 Tanisha Vernon, her predecessor Maria Jeffrey, Miss Belize World 2007-08 Felicita Arzu, Mini Belize Venisha Price, Miss Belize Earth Leilah Pandy, Miss Belize Top Model Tracey Robateau, Mini Universe Princess - lashed out at Pageants Belize director Margaret Johnson for not keeping her promises and handing over prizes the young women won, and denounced various snafus that dented their chances at success in the Miss Universe and Miss World contests held, respectively, in Sanya, China last December, and Mexico City, Mexico, last May.
For the first time ever this year there is a Mister Belize who will be representing Belize at Mister Jade Universe in December. There is also a yearly pageant (Queen of the Bay) to select a beauty ambassador to oversee the festivities of the remembrance of the Battle of St. George's Caye.
Trivia about Miss Belize: Felicita Arzu is the first Miss Belize World to make the Top 15 for the Miss World Talent Competition.
Tanisha Vernon is the first Miss Belize to actually lash out at the wrong doings (on large scale) of Pageants Belize Ltd. then Director, M. Johnson. She was supported by other personalites countrywide.
Karen Anita Russell (Miss Belize World 2002 & Queen of the Bay 1995) is one of the ladies who have held both the Miss Belize & Queen of the Bay titles.
When Karen Russell went to Miss World, she stirred up waves as she spoke about natural beauty and beauty that is made over.
The last elected Miss Belize Universe is Melissa Tanisha Vernon (07-08); Miss Belize World is Kadejah Kenifah Tunn (2011); Miss Belize Earth is runner-up Kimberly Robateau (2011) who replaced the winner Monique Habet for undisclosed reasons; Miss Belize International is Annlyn Nicole Apolonio, officially Queen of the Jewel (2011).
Below are a list of the different beauty ambassadors that have represented or will represent Belize in various international pageants.
Miss Belize Universe
Year Name Placement in Miss Universe Awards 1975 Pelisamay (Lisa) Longsworth - - 1976 Janet Joan Joseph - - 1977 Dora Maria Phillips - - 1978 Christina Margarita Ysaguirre - - 1979 Sarita Diana Acosta Top 12 - 1980 Ellen Marie Clarke - - 1981 Ivette Zabaneh - - 1982 Sharon Kay Auxillou - - 1983 Shirlene Dianne McKoy - - 1984 Lisa Patricia Ramírez - - 1985 Jennifer (Jenny) Woods - - 1986 Romy Ellen Taegar - - 1987 Holly Emma Edgell - - 1989 Andrea Shermane McKoy - - 1990 Ysela Antonia Zabaneh - - 1991 Josephine (Josie) Gault - - 1993 Melanie Smith - - 1995 Deborah Wade - - 1996 Ava Lovell - - 1997 Sharon Domínguez - - 1998 Elvia Lilia Vega - - 1999 Viola Jeffery - - 2000 Shiemicka La-Shanne Richardson - - 2003 Becky Belinda Bernard - - 2004 Leilah Anne Magdalena Pandy - - 2005 Andrea Erlington - - 2007 Maria Jeffery - - 2008 Melissa Tanisha Vernon Withdrew - - Semifinalist
Miss Belize World
Year Name Placement in Miss World Awards 1987 Janine Sylvestre - - 1988 Pauline Young - - 1989 Martha Badillo - - 1990 Ysela Antonia Zabaneh - - 1991 Josephine (Josie) Gault - - 2002 Karen Anita Russell - - 2003 Dalila Violeta Vanzie Montano - - 2007 Felicita (Leesha) Arzu - - 2008 Charmaine Chinapen - - 2009 Norma Leticia (Lety) Lara - - 2010 Jessel Monique Lauriano - - 2011 Kadejah Kenifah Tunn - - Miss Belize Earth
Year Name Placement in Miss Earth Awards 2007 Leilah Anne Magdalena Pandy - Top 5 Environmental Award 2008 Larriean Samuels Withdrew - 2009 Sherrylee Rodriguez Withdrew - 2010 Natasha Nicole Acosta Withdrew - 2011 Kimberly Ann Robateau Miss Belize International
Year Name Placement in Miss International Awards 2010 Chantae Chanice Guy Withdrew - 2011 Annlyn Nicole Apolonio - - Miss Belize Supranational
Year Name Placement in Miss Supranational Awards 2010 Fiona Usher Withdrew - 2011 Brittany Cabral Withdrew - Miss Belize Latin America
Year Name Placement in Miss Latin America Awards 2000 Nora De La Rosa - - 2006 Vanessa Chan - - 2008 Iris Jessie Medina - - 2009 Liliana Mia Nuñez - Miss Friendship; Best Cultural Costume 2011 Cricel Castillo - - Miss Belize Costa Maya
Year Name Placement in Miss Costa Maya International Awards 1996 Yvette Graniel - - 1997 Gaylene Desiree Dawson 1st Runner-up - 1998 Charlotte Lynette Romero Dominguez - - 1999 Vanya Diane Vasquez - Miss Piel Coppertone 2000 Zoe Roberson - - 2001 Melina Diaz - Best National Costume 2002 Becky Belinda Bernard - - 2003 Leilah Anne Magdalena Pandy Winner Best National Costume 2004 Farah Evans 2nd Runner-up - 2005 Opal Enriquez 1st Runner-up - 2006 Ninfa Juan - - 2007 Maria Jeffery Winner - 2008 Iris Jessie Medina - - 2009 Felicita (Leesha) Arzu - - 2010 Liliana Mia Nuñez - - 2011 Idolly Louise Saldivar - - - Winner
- Finalist
Miss Belize Panamerican
Year Name Placement in Miss Panamerican International Awards 1994 Faride Espadas - - 2003 Opal Enriquez Winner - 2011 Annlyn Nicole Apolonio - - - Winner
Miss Belize Piel Dorada
Year Name Placement in Miss Piel Dorada International Awards 2010 Tatiana Rivero - - 2011 Idolly Louise Saldivar - 2nd, Miss Piel Dorada Internet Miss Belize Ethnic
Year Name Placement in Miss Ethnic World International Awards 2011 Tyler Marie Savery 3rd Runner-up - Finalist
Miss Belize Teenager Universe
Year Name Placement in Miss Teenager Universe Awards 2010 Daniella Wooley - Miss Photogenic 2011 Annabell Haylock - - Miss Belize Teen World
Year Name Placement in Miss Teen World Awards 2009 Tracey Christine Jacobs Withdrew - Miss Belize Global
Year Name Placement in Miss Global Awards 1999 Dawn Sampson - - Miss Belize Teen International
Year Name Placement in Miss Teen International Awards 1999 Elvia Lilia Vega - - Miss Teen Belize
Year Name Placement in Miss Teen World Awards 1987 Betty Jean Usher - - 1999 Christina Astheimer - - 2002 Julie Ann Fletcher - - 2003 Recie Pollard - - 2009 Jacy Pau - - Miss Belize Teen Internet
Year Name Placement in Miss Teen Internet Awards 2007 Tracey Christine Jacobs 2nd Runner-up - - Finalist
Miss Belize Top Model
Year Name Placement in Miss Top Model International Awards 2007 Tracey Robateau - - 2010 Chantae Chanice Guy - - Miss Belize Tropico
Year Name Placement in Miss Tropico Awards 2008 Liliana Mia Nuñez - Miss Friendship Miss Belize Rainforest
Year Name Placement in Miss Rainforest International Awards 1999 Theresita Sosa - - 2000 Samantha Carlos - - 2001 Karen Anita Russell - - 2002 Erin Quiroz - - 2007 Vanessa Chan 2nd Runner-up 3rd Swimsuit Competition - Finalist
Miss Belize Mini Universe
Year Name Placement in Miss Mini Universe Awards 2007 Azizi Juanita Hoy - Mini Universe Princess, Miss Talent 2008 Venisha Price Withdrew - Miss Belize Mesoamerica
Year Name Placement in Miss Mesoamerica Awards 2003 Leilah Anne Magdalena Pandy 2nd Runner-up Miss Academic; Miss Culture - Finalist
Miss Belize Coffee
Year Name Placement in International Queen of Coffee Awards 2003 Becky Belinda Bernard - - Miss Belize Nuestra Belleza
Year Name Placement in Nuestra Belleza International Awards 1993 Deserine Usher - Miss Congeniality 1994 Sharon Dominguez - - 1995 Nazra Romero - - 1996 Sandra Manzanero - Miss Friendship 1997 Elvia Lilia Vega - - Miss Belize Caribbean
Year Name Placement in Miss Caribbean Awards 1996 Ava Lovell - - Mister Belize Jade Universe
Year Name Placement in Mister Jade Universe Awards 2011 Jhoshi Alexander Najarro Valencia Mister Belize Elegance International
Year Name Placement in Mister Elegance International Awards 2009 Gareth Jacobs - - 2010 Daniel Cann - - Queen of the Bay
Year Name Area Representing 1991 Betty Jean Usher Stann Creek 1993 Deserine Usher Stann Creek 1994 Sharon Dominguez Orange Walk 1995 Karen Anita Russell Belize City 1998 Shari Williams Toledo 1999 Samantha Carlos Orange Walk 2000 Stephanie Young Belize City 2001 Shelly Gillet Belize City 2002 Ebony Lyall Corozal 2003 Shajira Sajia Corozal 2004 Sherima Usher Stann Creek 2005 Carrie Wong K Stann Creek 2006 Shadine Ottley Belize City 2007 Ronnie Coye Belmopan 2008 Karima Card Black Orchid (Belize City) 2009 Reena Beverly Usher Stann Creek 2010 Audralee Enriquez Port Loyola 2011 Amanda Taylor Barrier Reef (Belize City) Miss Belize Queen of the Bay New York
Year Name Placement in Queen of the Bay New York Awards 2010 Zeripha Darcel Arnold 1st Runner-up - 2011 Artese Fairweather Winner - - Winner
- Finalist
External links
References
Categories:- Beauty pageants
- Beauty pageants in Belize
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