{{short description|National beauty pageant competition in Belize}} {{Infobox organization | name = Miss Belize Organization | formation = 1975 | type = [[Beauty pageant]] | headquarters = [[Belize City]] | location = [[Belize]] | membership = {{Hlist|[[Miss Universe]]}} | language = [[English language|English]] | leader_title = President | leader_name = Destinee Arnold | website = }} '''Miss Universe Belize''' is a national [[beauty pageant]] that selects Belize's official representative to [[Miss Universe]]—one of the [[Big Four beauty pageants|Big Four International beauty pageants]].
==History== In the early days of Miss Universe Belize (then known as Miss Belize), one pageant was held yearly to select a representative for the Miss Universe pageant, with either the winner or a runner-up representing Belize at [[Miss World]].{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} Recently{{when|date=September 2016}}, there has been an emergence of different pageants to select representatives for different international pageants as opposed to just one pageant with several winners.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}
===2008=== Miss Universe Belize 2008 Tanisha Vernon spoke out against "Pageants Belize, owner, and only employee – Margaret Johnson".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=10585&frmsrch=1|title=Beauty Queens Revolt Against Margaret Johnson|publisher=7newsbelize.com|access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref> Her crown was then revoked in July 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sanpedrosun.com/community-and-society/2009/01/07/the-nightmare-is-over-former-miss-belize-wins-case-against-pageants-belize/|title="the nightmare is over", Former Miss Belize wins case against Pageants Belize - The San Pedro Sun News|date=7 January 2009|publisher=sanpedrosun.com|access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref>
===2016=== In 2016, Opal Enriquez took over the Miss Belize franchise.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belize Will Field a Delegate for Miss Universe Pageant {{!}} Channel5Belize.com |url=https://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/129892 |access-date=2023-07-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>
===2018—2022=== In 2018, Romeo Escobar, a three-time Emmy award-winning producer took over the franchise of [[Miss Universe]] in Belize.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgh8G_HhvOc/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bgh8G_HhvOc |archive-date=2021-12-26 |url-access=registration|publisher=Miss Belize 2018|access-date=21 March 2018|title=Miss Universe Belize 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He left the franchise in 2023, citing disagreements with the Miss Universe Organization owners over how franchises should run.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2023 |title=Miss Belize organiser drops Miss Universe franchise |url=https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/miss-belize-organiser-drops-miss-universe-franchise |access-date=March 22, 2023 |website=Loop News}}</ref>
===2023—Present=== In 2023, Miss Universe Belize 2019, Destinee Arnold took over the Miss Belize franchise. The pageant was renamed to "Miss Universe Belize". The franchise is currently under the House of Crowns by Team Destination organization.
==Titleholders== {{plainlist| * {{Color box|gold|border=silver}} : Declared as Winner * {{Color box|#FFFF66|border=silver}} : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification * {{Color box|#FFFF99|border=silver}} : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists * {{Color box|#FADADD|border=silver}} : Ended as special awards winner }} :: {| class="wikitable " style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center;" ! Year ! Miss Belize ! Placement at Miss Universe ! Special Award(s) ! Notes |- | [[Miss Universe 2025|2025]] | Isabella Zabaneh<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keme-Palacio |first=Benita |date=29 June 2025 |title=Miss Universe Belize 2025 is Isabella Zabaneh |url=https://www.greaterbelize.com/miss-universe-belize-2025-is-isabella-zabaneh/ |access-date=29 June 2025 |website=[[Great Belize Television|Greater Belize Media]] |language=en-US}}</ref> | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 2024|2024]] | Halima Hoy<ref>{{cite web |title=Halima Hoy is Miss Belize Universe 2024 |url=https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2024/04/14/halima-hoy-is-miss-belize-universe-2024/ |website=Breaking Belize News |access-date=14 April 2024}}</ref> | Unplaced | | Destinee Arnold directorship. |- | [[Miss Universe 2023|2023]] | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete}} |- | [[Miss Universe 2022|2022]] | Ashley Lightburn | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 2021|2021]] | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete}} |- | [[Miss Universe 2020|2020]] | Iris Salguero | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 2019|2019]] | [[Destinee Arnold]] | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 2018|2018]] | Jenelli Fraser | Unplaced | | Romeo Escobar directorship. |- | [[Miss Universe 2017|2017]] | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete}} |- | [[Miss Universe 2016|2016]] | Rebecca Rath | Unplaced | align="left"| * Best National Costume (Top 12) | Opal Onriquez directorship. |- | colspan=6 {{n/a|Did not compete between 2010—2015}} |- | [[Miss Universe 2009|2009]] | Charmaine Chinapen | colspan=2 {{n/a|Did not compete}} | Withdrawal — Charmaine allocated to Miss World 2008. |- | [[Miss Universe 2008|2008]] | Tanisha Vernon | colspan=2 {{n/a|Did not compete}} | Failed to sign her contract and that she could not expect to continue as queen "Miss Belize".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://amandala.com.bz/news/new-miss-belize-crowned/|website=amandala.com.bz|access-date=18 May 2019|title=NEW MISS BELIZE CROWNED}}</ref> |- | [[Miss Universe 2007|2007]] | Maria Jeffery | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 2006|2006]] | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete}} |- | [[Miss Universe 2005|2005]] | Andrea Elrington | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 2004|2004]] | Leilah Anne Magdalena Pandy | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 2003|2003]] | Becky Belinda Bernard | Unplaced | | Margaret Johnson directorship. |- | [[Miss Universe 2002|2002]] | Karen Anita Russell | colspan=2 {{n/a|Did not compete}} | [[Carolyn Trench-Sandiford]] directorship. |- | [[Miss Universe 2001|2001]] | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete}} |- | [[Miss Universe 2000|2000]] | Shiemicka Richardson | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1999|1999]] | Viola Jeffery | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1998|1998]] | Elvia Lilia Vega | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1997|1997]] | Sharon Domínguez | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1996|1996]] | Ava Lovell | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1995|1995]] | Deborah Wade | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1994|1994]] | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete}} |- | [[Miss Universe 1993|1993]] | Melanie Smith | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1992|1992]] | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete}} |- | [[Miss Universe 1991|1991]] | Josephine Gault | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1990|1990]] | Ysela Antonia Zabaneh | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1989|1989]] | Andrea Shermane McKoy | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1988|1988]] | colspan=5 {{n/a|Did not compete}} |- | [[Miss Universe 1987|1987]] | Holly Emma Edgell | Unplaced | | Solie Arguelles (Pageants Belize) directorship. |- | [[Miss Universe 1986|1986]] | Romy Ellen Taegar | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1985|1985]] | Jennifer (Jenny) Woods | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1984|1984]] | Lisa Patricia Ramírez | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1983|1983]] | Shirlene Dianne McKoy | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1982|1982]] | Sharon Kay Auxillou | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1981|1981]] | Ivette Zabaneh | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1980|1980]] | Ellen Marie Clarke | Unplaced | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF99;" | [[Miss Universe 1979|1979]] | Sarita Diana Acosta | Top 12 | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1978|1978]] | Christina Margarita Ysaguirre | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1977|1977]] | Dora Maria Phillips | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1976|1976]] | Janet Joan Joseph | Unplaced | | |- | [[Miss Universe 1975|1975]] | Pelisamay Longsworth | Unplaced | | Under the UDP Minister Youth and Culture of Belize. |- |}
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.missuniversebelizepageant.com/contact-2/}}
{{Miss Universe countries and territories}}
[[Category:Beauty pageants in Belize]] [[Category:1975 establishments in Belize]] [[Category:Belizean awards]] [[Category:Miss Universe by country|Belize]]