The gracious and lovely Maria Jeffery will represent Belize at the Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant.

    The 25-year-old, five feet, ten inch Belizean beauty is a nurse and one day hopes to become the Head Nurse of her native country. Maria states that in the future she plans to be even more involved with charitable work. Her interests include reading, fishing, sports, dancing, cooking, painting, camping gardening, supporting great causes involving children, traveling, modeling and nursing. However, she enjoys fishing, traveling and sharing nursing tips and information the most.

    Contestant participation has already been confirmed by Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Guatemala, while Nicaragua and Costa Rica are yet to respond as of press time. However, their representatives have done well in the past and without a doubt these two Mayan countries will join in the fun of La Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant. The Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant contestants are slated to arrive in Belize City on July 25th. While in Belize City they will enjoy an excursion provided by Discovery Expeditions who will take them on an eco-adventure tour at Peccary Park. This will include an ATV ride through the jungle, a kayak and jungle adventure. The girls will overnight in Belize City after which they will travel to San Ignacio and stay at the newly opened boutique Ka’ana Hotel. San Pedranos will get a chance to meet the girls on Saturday (July 27th) for the slated Noche San Pedrana, which will be sponsored by Reef Radio.

    Official photographer for this year’s event will be Shamir Guerrero and Greg Forman will be this year’s pageant coordinator. Mr. Forman is looking for a fresh new look for the pageant, while Goodmark Jeweler’s Belize will be offering a beautiful jewelry set for the grand winner. Ramon’s Village remains as the Official Resort of the Costa Maya Festival as well Delta Airlines remains as the official airline.

    Entertainment for Thursday’s festival night will include the San Pedro Dance Company, Take the Lead, DNA and a few other participants that will be announced in the coming weeks. As for who will host this year’s pageant? Well, the male host will be San Pedro’s very own Eiden Salazar Jr., while his co host has been tentatively set for Alicia Machado. Knowing the organizers of the festival, whoever they choose is bound to be someone fabulous!

    Entertainment for the rest of the festival’s nights will include the popular Crash from El Salvador, headliner Reyli, Honduras’ Chicas de Samba. Sunday will also be fun filled, complete with the entertaining comedic act of Nora Velasquez from La hora de la Risa show which airs daily on Univision (Channel 13). She is sure to bring in a lot of fun and jokes for the day.

    Costa Maya 2007 is almost here, plans are almost finalized and the fun, excitement, glamour is ready to begin. Don’t get caught unawares! Start planning for this wonderful festival; it is right around the corner!