Tanisha Vernon is Miss Belize Universe and Larriean Samuels is Miss Belize Earth

The Miss Belize pageant was held this past Saturday in Belize City and Tanisha Vernon won the title. She will now represent Belize at the Miss Universe pageant in 2008. Yesterday she paid us at visit and told us she is all excited about her new title.

Tanisha Vernon,Miss Belize Universe:

“Right now I’m overwhelmed with enthusiasm. I’m feeling wonderful. It’s definitely an honor to be given this position. And it’s not only a position but it’s a job that you have to maintain and I hope at the end, I can represent my country to the fullest. I think my maintenance of confidence and my hard work and I always kept it in my mind that I’m in it to win it. I maintained my objective and that’s basically what helped me to pull through.”

Vernon told us also that during her reign she plans to work very much with community groups.

Tanisha Vernon,Miss Belize Universe:

“My plan of action is to be more active in my community, work more in Alliance with AIDS. It’s an organization that deals with HIV/AIDS. I noticed that it’s a universal problem worldwide and Belize is one of the Central American country that has one of the highest percentage of HIV/AIDS. And to be apart of that,it’s definitely a task. I mean I have friends and relatives that died from this disease and so I’m faced with it first hand; not only behind the scenes but I see the up close and personal effect that it has on people’s lives. Also with orphanage, being more active in schools, probably reading to the children,help with future pageants at the tertiary and secondary level, and give motivational speeches to those young ladies that probably want to be or vie for the title next year in 2008.”

Love News also spoke with new Miss Belize Earth, Larriean Samuels. Samuels said she is honored to be an ambassador for Belize and that during her reign will try to fulfill all her responsibilities.

Larriean Samuels,Miss Belize Earth:

“It was a very exciting and a little bit nerve-racking experience, and I am very honored to be an ambassador of this country. It’s more of a prestige job I would say,that not any women has the opportunity to do here in Belize. I was very determined and very hungry. I took instructions very well, advice I listened and I executed and I would definitely say that that helped me to win the pageant and being very focused.At this moment I am open. During the course of my reign I’m sure there will be many opportunities that are open. I will experience and I will be aware of things that I didn’t know before and from then I would choose but right now at this moment I am interested in business but in dealing with the environment and everything you never know where your passion may change to a whole 360.”

In the case that either Vernon or Samuels cannot fulfill their duties the first runner up Jesse Medina will take up the post. Medina plans to assist in community service and promote the tourism sector in Belize.

Source: Love FM

Miss Belize 2006, Maria Jeffries and Miss World 2006, Felicita Arzu pose with the eight Miss Belize contestants.

The stage is almost been set and preparations are still underway for the annual Miss Belize Pageant which is to be held on Saturday, September 15, at the Belize City Centre, beginning at 7:30P.M.

Eight beauties from all over the country will compete in the single crown competition, unlike last year where two crowns were awarded.

They are Jenine Thompson, 20, representing Belize Rural North, Keisha Daniels, a 21-year-old primary school teacher of Stann Creek, Iris “Jessie” Medina, 24, of Orange Walk, Sharalee Rodriguez, being the youngest with 18 years, Melanie Lammey and Lorriean Samuels, both 19, along with 20-year-old Tanisha Vernon, and Flareda Belezaire all of Belize City.

Like most years, it’s a pageant of distinction that promises to be an event to remember. In addition to the traditional strolls across the stage and the various costumes, local artists like B-Wood massive from Buttonwood Bay will also entertain the audience. On Wednesday, the young ladies vying for the title were introduced to the press.

According to Executive Director, Margaret Johnson, they have lost five days of training due to Hurricane Dean, but have caught up over the last two days.

“It’s been tedious due to the weather. Nevertheless, I have some very nice young girls going up and we’ve had good participation. I’ve had a lot of applications, but as I had mentioned earlier, I only chose the ones who I thought were ready because we had only a short time to prepare.”

Contestant Tanisha Vernon, during a brief interview with this newspaper mentioned her decision to enter was an inspiration.

“I’ve had a lot of support, but I must say thanks especially to my parents who were my biggest motivators. Being my first time, I thought it would be a great experience. I will also get to meet new friends.”

Reporter also spoke to Melanie Lammey, who is being sponsored by Belize Telemedia Limited. According to the brave at heart, she entered because “as a little girl growing up, I’ve always dreamt about becoming an ambassador to Belize and this pageant will give me the opportunity to become that ambassador.”

She continued, “I also entered this pageant because I really want to prove to myself that I am not as shy as I believe I am.”

These eight women also participated in a swimsuit and fashion competition on Saturday last, September 8. In the end, it was Lorriean Samuels who walked away with both titles.

The present Miss Belize, Maria Jeffries says her last year has been great. Not only had she traveled to numerous places like Merida and the United States, but was also this year’s Costa Maya Queen, which happened just last month in Ambergris Caye. She concluded by saying that if she had a choice, she would not give up her crown because the rewards are overwhelming.

For additional information on the contestants, you can visit their official website at www.missbelize.bz. Tickets can be purchased at any Venus outlet, the Princess Hotel or at D.J. Tambran at $20 for reserve and $10 for general and children before 6:00P.M. on September 13. An additional $10 will be added for those purchased anytime after.

Source: The Reporter

Miss Belize Leilah Pandy to Compete in Miss Earth

Pageants Belize Ltd. is pleased to announce that Belize will be represented for the first time at the Miss Earth pageant in the Philippines in October. Miss Leilah Pandy has been chosen to compete as Miss Belize Earth in the Philippines capital Manila, from October 21 to November 11, when Miss Earth will be crowned.

Pageant’s Belize Director Margaret Johnson says that the time is right for Belize to increase its participation in international pageants. Competing at Miss Earth for the first time this year, says Johnson, is the beginning of a new and exciting thrust in the Pageants Belize developmental plan. Along with the crowning of Miss Belize Universe and Miss Belize International on Saturday night and the participation of Miss Felicita Arzu at the Miss World Pageant in November and December this year, Belize will be poised to take part in the “big four” international beauty pageants in the 2007/2008 season.

Miss Pandy was crowned Miss Belize in 2003 and represented Belize at Miss Universe 2004. She won Miss Costa Maya in 2003 and was third runner up and Miss Culture and Miss Academic at Miss Mesoamerica International held in Las Vegas, Nevada in September, 2003.

Miss Pandy will engage in a series of events leading up to her departure for the Philippines on October 17, 2007.


Source: Belizean.com