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Halima Hoy was crowned Miss Universe Belize 2024 in a national competition held on Saturday, April 13 at Belize Civic Centre in Belize City. The 29-year-old certified personal trainer and fitness coach from Port Loyola will represent her country at the 73rd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2024) in Mexico later this year. Maryam Abdul-Qawiyy was named first runner-up while Myra Sibrian was announced as the second runner-up. Former Miss Earth Destiny Wagner, the first Miss Earth winner from Belize, graced the event as part of the esteemed panel of judges. Belize's last representative at Miss Universe was Ashley Lightburn, Miss Universe Belize 2022. She participated in the 71st Miss Universe in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA last January 2023. The newly crowned Miss Universe Belize is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in kinesiology allied health. Halima advocates for health and fitness and hopes to provide knowledge and aid to Belizeans in less fortunate situations on physiologi

Romeo Escobar, the national director of Miss Universe Belize for the past five years, announced his withdrawal from the Miss Universe Organization in an official statement released on Thursday, February 16. He mentioned MUO's recent "changes and implementations on its business model including franchise bidding under JKN Global Group's ownership" as the reason for his decision to give up his national franchise. The three-time Emmy Award winner and "Survivor 42" runner-up added, "This does not align with the way I conduct business and I believe it is not a sustainable way to keep a partnership long-term with its directors." He also confessed to struggling to get the financial backing needed to run the national pageant organization because, according to his statement, "no one cared or wanted to be associated with pageants in Belize at all." His message for the next national director: "I hope the next person who takes on the Miss Univers

Ashley Lightburn was crowned Miss Belize 2022 (Miss Universe Belize) on Saturday, August 13 at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts in Belize City. The 25-year-old mathematician is an adjunct math lecturer at the University of Belize and a project management officer at a bank. She holds a degree in pure mathematics and currently pursuing her master's in international business administration. Alina Scott and Samantha Singh were the first and second runners-up, respectively. A total of six finalists participated in this year's Miss Belize competition. Last year's titleholder Iris Salguero crowned her successor at the end of the event. The new Miss Belize will represent her country at the Miss Universe 2022 pageant. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ashley Lightburn (@ashleyklightburn) Photos: Miss Universe Belize, Vanessa Edwards Photography