Photo: Miss Universe Belize, Ashley Lightburn (l); and Miss World Belize, Elise-Gayonne Vernon (r)
by Khaila Gentle
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Oct. 31, 2022
On Saturday, at the Ramada Princess poolside, 21-year-old Elise-Gayonne Vernon was crowned Miss World Belize 2022. Vernon, who hails from the village of Biscayne in the Belize District, is a young farmer and certified beekeeper.
AMANDALA had the pleasure of meeting with the new Miss World Belize last Thursday when she and three other contestants, Veronica Ruano, Paris Cawich, and Shante Morgan, visited the YWCA Daycare Center to hand out Halloween party bags. There, she told us that the road to the Miss World pageant so far has been a learning experience.
An animal lover, Vernon is an agriculture student and says that she signed up for the pageant with the intention of inspiring others and making an impact. She will go on to represent Belize in the 2023 Miss World competition.
First runner up was Tori Chaplin, while Paris Cawich will go on to be Belize’s first ever Miss Global and will attend that upcoming pageant in Vietnam in 2023.
The crown was passed on to the new Miss World Belize by Markeisha Young, Miss World Belize 2021. Young took her final walk on stage at the Princess poolside and shared a reflection of what the past year has been like for her.
“I would be lying if I said this journey was an easy one. But like my mom always told me, nothing great comes easily. Hard work and determination is always needed to see that light of greatness,” she said.
Throughout her journey, added Young, she had the opportunity to meet countless new people who have the same love for humanity and passion for their countries that she does.
The date of the 2023 Miss World competition has not yet been announced. The current crown holder is Karolina Bielawska of Poland, who was crowned by Jamaica’s Toni-Ann Singh in March 2022 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Created in 1951, Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant.