Email

Print

For House of Crowns, which is organizing this year's pageant, it's a reset and reorientation. Today we spoke with the new director of the Belize franchise, herself a former Queen, Destinee Arnold. She told us what to expect from these "Beautifully Confident" contestants. Jomarie Lanza reports

Ten beautiful ladies were introduced last night as the new Miss Universe Belize 2024 delegates by way of a table talk interview.

It's a new season of Miss Universe Belize with changes in the administration and execution of the pageant.

Former Miss Universe 2019, Destinee Arnold is the Pageant Director and she says that it's a show you don't want to miss.

Destinee Arnold, National Director, MUB
"The main changes are just a new set of eyes, a new vision and a collaborative effort with various partners and entities all over the Belizean Community. And I think that enables us to really tap into the creative minds of all of our visionaries across the country and place emphasis on a combined effort to be able to execute what the public not only in Belize but internationally wants, and needs from the pageant industry."

"The selection process was tough; it was no easy feat for the girls to be selected. We received 18 applicants and 12 of them ultimately were offered the position of being a Miss Universe Belize 2024 delegates of those 12 that were offered 10 were able to commit to it and those are the 10 that you were introduced to last night."

It's a tight competition between women of all ages and backgrounds. Now that adjustments were made to the Miss U restrictions, Arnold says that it has created an opportunity for all women to chase that Miss Universe dream despite their age and marital status.

Destinee Arnold, National Director, MUB
"We have a lot of familiar faces, faces that are not strangers to the pageant industry. It is amazing to start to develop that culture of not giving up on your dream and continue to be steadfast in the pursuit of all your aspirations just because a door closes does not mean that you can't find a window that will open up to you and we are really taking advantage of all the barriers that have lifted and taking advantage of the inclusivity of women no matter how old you are what your marital status is or if you have children it is truly a celebration of a women's in all her forms."

"Despite our age it does not diminish what we have to offer to our community and the international world. And the ability for our girls to apply for Miss Universe Belize despite their age also develops that culture of not giving up on this dream. Just because you did not place or win the first year you applied or the second year or the third year does not mean that you cannot go up again. There have been plenty of Miss Universes that have competed international pageants multiple times and eventually won and obtained the Miss Universe crown. So imagine our girls being that tenacious and steadfast in pursuit of this crown and the doors that it can open for them there are endless possibilities and I am really excited that we are able to offer that opportunity to all women despite their age."

Miss Universe Belize is set to be held at the Belize Civic Center on April 13th. Ticket prices and availability are yet to be announced.

This year's delegates are

• Mikayla Gongora
• Vivian Noralez
• Myra Sibrian
• Fany Mejia
• Halima Hoy
• Shaenna Gilharry
• Monilee Aspinall
• Maya-Lis Wright
• Jasmin Rhamadas