Belize takes Miss Costa Maya International 2017 crown

By BBN Staff: Last night, the annual Miss Costa Maya International Pageant was held in San Pedro town.

Delegates from Mexico, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua vied for the crown.

Residents were out cheering and celebrating for their favorite contestant of El Mundo Maya.

Michelle Estrella Nunez represented Belize in the glamorous contest.

Nunez is from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye and is the first San Pedrana to capture the Miss Costa Maya crown.

The 26 year-old, 5’6” beauty was a past Miss San Pedro (2014). She also represented Belize last year at Miss America Latina del Mundo in Mexico, where she not only captured the award for Best Original Costume but also gave Belize the highest and thus far only placement in that pageant. She placed 4th Runner-up (out of 19), besting delegates from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Spain, among others.

Nunez graduated from St. John’s Junior College and currently works as an Assistant Sales Agent for ICB. She is the founder and director of SHINE (Shaping Healthy Identities through Nurturing and Empowerment), whose goal is to offer hope, empowerment, and a brighter future for young women. Her hobbies include healthy cooking, swimming, bike riding, running, and freelance modeling.

The party continues tonight in San Pedro with an opening gala being held in conjunction with Caribbean night. Presentations include cultural displays by Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama and Mexico.

International artists include reggaetón artist from Panama Felix Lt, Grupo Yerbaklan from Honduras, the Soca Queen of the Carribean, Allison Hinds alongside Belize’s General, Supa G.

Saturday night is the grand international night featuring Grupo Crash, Alegria y Tradiciones – Danza de Panama, Stig da Artist, World Culture Band, and La Sonora Dinamita de Lucho Argain.