Destiny Wagner Talks Miss Universe: Is Belize Ready?

The Miss Universe Belize franchise has entered a new chapter, officially transitioning to new ownership after its sale to an organization in El Salvador. This month, the franchise announced Destiny Wagner, Belize’s first Miss Earth as the National Director, who will oversee the national pageant system and lead preparations for Belize’s representative at Miss Universe. With the call for applicants already open, we caught up with Wagner today for more details on the pageant and her new role in the industry. News Five’s Britney Gordon Reports.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The Seventy-fifth Miss Universe pageant is fast approaching, and excitement is building both in Belize and around the globe. The pageant is set to take place in Puerto Rico in November 2026, leaving Belize with just five months to crown a delegate and prepare. The Miss Universe Franchise in Belize is undergoing a major change, with new leadership taking charge. This month, former Miss Earth winner, Destiny Wagner was revealed as the new National Director. She says the offer came as a major surprise.

 

Destiny Wagner, National Director, Miss Universe Belize

“The day before they announced me as the National Director of Miss Universe the night before I signed my contract. So everything was so sudden. Everything was just presented to me. They were in Belize, and we had a meeting. I initially thought that they wanted me to sponsor Belize Pilates as the official Pilates studio of the pageant, which would have been amazing, and we’re still gonna do that. But when they asked me to be the national director, I was a bit hesitant at first, but after seeing everything that they had planned, they had a whole proposal. They did a lot of research on the culture of Belize, the people of Belize, and our history in pageants in Belize. So that’s how I was sold.”

 

The franchise was bought by a production company called Americas Events, which is primarily based in El Salvador with other branches in the United States and across Central America.

 

Destiny Wagner

“I don’t think that international or foreign investment is a bad thing when it comes to building local talent here. I don’t think that’s gonna be, that should be the way that we view it. In a lot of pageants in Miss Universe or Miss Earth, whichever pageant, they have a lot of franchisees that don’t live in that country but own the franchise. But what they bring is valuable resources that the young woman can benefit from. So I know that I am the face of this, but I wouldn’t put myself in a situation to deteriorate or hurt these young delegates or my country. I have Belize’s best interests at heart, and I always will.”

 

Wagner acknowledges that the timespan is limited for contestants, recalling having just two weeks to prepare for her own Miss Earth Pageant. However, she encourages Belizean women to embrace the opportunity. She says that the “why you’re doing it“ has to be greater than the “how you’re going to do it”.  And promises that the delegate will be supported and given the right tools to prepare for the stage.

 

Destiny Wagner

“My vision is definitely gonna be based on collaboration. This is not something that I can do by myself. This is not something that Belize can do by itself. This is something where we wanna invite everyone who is willing to collaborate with us. We wanna give our delegate the best opportunity, give her the most resources. So whether that’s in-house or whether that’s abroad, when we come together, we wanna make her a force to be reckoned.”

 

The Miss Universe Belize Pageant is scheduled for mid-August with the casting call to be held on July fourth at Belize Pilates. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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