Queen of the culture capital, Dangriga, Sherima Usher, a student of Ecumenical Junior College in Dangriga who just turned 18 in August, was the exceptional candidate who won the hearts of the judges: Shari Williams, Donaldine Fairweather Harmes, Dr. Jason Price, Douglas Thompson, and Sharon Pitts Robateau.

Corozal has held the title since 2002, when Ebony Lyall won the pageant, but during official St. George?s Caye Day ceremonies on September 10th, reigning Queen of the Bay, Shajira Sajia, will crown Miss Stann Creek, Sherima Usher, as her successor.

On pageant night, the eight contestants who vied for the title were judged in four main categories: introduction, swimsuit, talent and formal wear.

Sherima?s crowd of supporters was among those who packed the Belize City Center on Saturday night, September 4. Each time she appeared on stage and performed before the audience and judges, they urged her on with loud cheers.

In a pageant that ran about 4 hours long, Sherima demonstrated that she had all the key elements the judges were looking for in the winning contestant, including poise, charm, elegance, creativity, wit and queenly dignity.

It was perhaps the skit she wrote, titled ?Stay da Belize,? which convinced everyone that she could very well be the next Queen of the Bay. It was patriotic and strongly reflected elements of Belizean culture.

Sherima dressed for her part using materials such as coconut shells used to make the bra cups for her top and a grass skirt.

In the witty and humorous piece, Sherima told of a Belizean who had gone to live in the United States. The friend invited her to visit the U.S., but she refused and instead persuaded her friend to visit Belize.

As she told of the experiences they had sightseeing in Belize and described her friend?s reaction to a mosquito bite, she had the audience rolling over with laughter.

Throughout her piece, she comically chided the pretentiousness of some Belizeans who leave home and forget their ?Belizean-ness;? at the same time demonstrating the value of all things Belizean.

Of course, Sherima could not conclude her presentation without showing off her Punta Rock moves.

There was a number of other outstanding talent presentations. Another notable performer was Georgetta Edwards, Miss Ladyville, 15­the youngest and possibly the most eloquent of the contestants. After presenting a monologue encouraging youths to stay in school, she danced a punta rock tune by Supa G, reinforcing the message: ?Say no to drugs.?

Miss Cayo, Conchita Moreno, seized the opportunity the Queen of the Bay gave her to showcase her fabulous singing talent, which she celebrates as a gift from God. Dressed in a charming white dress, she presented her rendition of ?My Immortal,? by Evanescence. While the song did not demonstrate patriotism/nationalism­one of the elements the judges were looking for­it did enable this rising star to demonstrate her vocal dexterity.

Perhaps the most emotive presentation for the night was done by Miss Sandhill, Darena Rodriguez, as she portrayed an older woman whose daughter and supporter was critically injured by a drunken driver. ?Unu noh drink and drive,? was the advice this promising actress repeated as she sobbed and exited the stage.

The longest segment of the competition was the formal wear segment, in which the contestants appeared on stage wearing ballroom gowns, most of them fully white.

During this segment, each contestant curtsied before the reigning queen, as she sat on her royal throne, flanked by her two young jesters.

While the Queen of the Bay song played, the contestant then slowly took her grand walk around the stage, stopping to curtsy before the audience and the judges.

Sherima Usher?s majestic curtsey appeared elegant and effortless, as she very slowly and smoothly descended to the floor in a graceful bow, and then ascended to standing position.

During their appearance in formal wear, the women had chitchats with hosts Virginia Echols, Carmen Barrow and Rafael Martinez, during which they were judged on their expression.
After the 4th segment, three of the contestants were eliminated: Miss Albert, Karen Hyde, 18, the tallest contestant at 5? 9?; Miss Corozal: Ashanti Sutherland, 17; and Miss Edwards of Ladyville, who was notably an audience favorite.

The five finalists remaining in the pageant were Sherima, Darina, Miss Cayo Conchita Moreno, 18; Miss San Pedro, Delcia Trejo, 20; Miss Placencia, Jasmine Anderson, 18.

The three winners were chosen after the hosts asked each contestant a final question, which they had to randomly pick from a basket.

At the end of the final round, the hosts announced that Miss San Pedro, Delcia Trejo, was first runner up (second place); Miss Placencia, Jasmine Anderson was second runner up (third place); and Miss Stann Creek, Sherima Usher, was the first place winner­the Queen of the Bay designate.

Notably, it was these same three contestants that had the loudest applause from the audience, although, by far, the loudest applause was consistently for Miss Stann Creek.

Sherima?s winnings include a scholarship to the University College of Belize. All three winners got cash and other prizes, while each remaining contestant was awarded consolation prizes.

Sherima was also ?sashed? Miss Amity. The contestants select the title by vote for the candidate who they believe is the most cordial.

The photographer and the Queen of the Bay Committee chose Darena, Miss Sandhill, as Miss Photogenic.

Before the start of the 58th Queen of the Bay, a special tribute was paid to Ms. Eloise Humes, who had passed away earlier this year, according to the pageant hosts.

Humes is the author of the Queen of the Bay song. Her inspiration, they say, came from the beautiful smile of the first titleholder, Miss Rita Lewis, who wore the first Queen of the Bay crown in 1946.

Roderick Quentin Augustus Pitts wrote the script for the pageant.