History
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, Chantae Chanice Guy, Leilah Anne Magdalena Pandy, Maria Jeffery, and Opal Enriquez.
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.
The last elected Miss Belize Universe is Melissa Tanisha Vernon (2008); Miss Belize World is Chantae Chanice Guy (2012); Miss Belize Earth is Jessel Monique Lauriano (2012) ; Miss Belize International is Destinee Dominique Arnold - officially, Queen of the Jewel (2012).
Read more about this topic: Miss Belize
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