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Here's what she had to say about her Miss Universe journey:

In less than a month the 73rd Miss Universe pageant will take place in Mexico City, where the sitting Miss U, Nicaragua's Sheynnis Palacios will crown her successor. And today Our Miss Universe Belize, Halima Hoy arrived at a proverbial stepping stone in her Miss U journey, her official departure from the country in preparation for the international stage. She says that taking up this role has been unlike anything she had ever imagined.

Halima Hoy, Miss Universe Belize
"The journey has been incredible. It has been a roller coaster all the emotions, but it is also a testament to the hard work and dedication and how transformative change can be once you really put 100% of what you have not only myself but also my team they have been very instrumental in the individual I have become today because I am a completely new person. Someone who is ready to take on an important role such as the Miss universe title and someone who is ready to represent my country to the fullest."

"I knew it was not going to be easy I knew it was going to be tough, but I thought I would be able to still live my life in the US and live my life in Belize, but I did not expect to be this busy I mean my calendar has been full ever since I won and I can show you the calendar and you will see me fully booked, but I have been making Belize know who I am. I have been working for the communities that I said I was going to work for so everything that I wanted to do as Miss universe, everything that creates meaning to this title for me has come to life and that alone is just worth all the hard work."

And the work sounds like it will intensify within these following weeks as she departs for LA where she will finish prep before she makes her way to Mexico City.

Halima Hoy, Miss Universe Belize
"So these next few days are going to be about finishing touches I am going to have an evaluation with the rest of my team in LA and my walk coach and I am also going to be you know doing the final preparations and then I go to Mexico so that is going to be like another week and a half, but once I get there, you know, I am mentally prepared and that is one of the biggest things because you can be physically prepared you can have all the outfits all the beautiful things, but you have to be mentally prepared for any challenges that come your way. You have to think on your feet and I think I am in the right headspace for those challenges."

And of course one of the biggest challenges faced by every former Miss Universe Belize, involves one of the most competitive parts of the pageant. The outcome relies on each delegate's costume selection for the National Costume Category. This year Hoy and her team stunned the Belize public with what they have in store for the International stage.

Halima Hoy, Miss Universe Belize
"So Xwankil the Mayan deer dance is a very traditional well respected part of the Mayan culture and we had the submissions we had done a competition so that different artists in Belize. We wanted it to be 100% authentic Belizean costume and submitted their designs. We got a lot of amazing ones but of course Xwankil caught the attention of the Belizean population and also the organization they got the most votes and we chose that one because it has such a deep meaning, and it respects one of our ethnic groups here in Belize and we are just so excited about how it came out exactly like how we envisioned it and even more beautiful in person so you guys are in for a treat when you see me on stage with that costume."

"So the backstory about it is that a Deer Farmer he went and he spoke to the mountains, and the mountains told him to build a marimba he played the marimba and the deer came dancing and other animals as well, but behind that is the resilience and strength of the Mayan people during their colonization. And they were able to keep their identity and stay true to themselves and it is also if you think about it this way connection to the Mexican culture as well because they have Mayan people in Mexico, so it is a shared tradition and it is something that we in Belize are excited about that we are proud of and I think it is going to be well received on the international stage."

And the stage is just a stone's throw away from the Belizean northern border. Hoy says that the possibility of having a large Belizean turnout is high, and that support would mean a lot.

Halima Hoy, Miss Universe Belize
"It would mean the world to me because I have been saying this over and over again this title is not about me. It is about my country and how well I can represent our people, our strength, our intelligence, our poise and our passion and friendliness so I want to see those flags in the crowd because I want them to know that this is a reflection of you, you are a part of my journey and I am a part of yours. We are neighbors with Mexico, so I am looking forward to looking out there. I don't know if I can keep my composure. If I see all those flags I might get a little bit emotional on stage, but it is definitely going to be a huge boost to my confidence, knowing that I have my country behind me, which I know I do I know I do but seeing it, it's going to be something different."