Miss Honduras Claims Costa Maya Crown 2015

It’s Honduras’ second claim to the coveted Miss Costa Maya crown since 2006 as Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle was selected as the new Miss Costa Maya 2015 at the Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant that kicked off the San Pedro International Costa Maya Festival 2015, on Thursday, August 6.

The pageant was bursting with Caribbean flavor as the theme embraced Carnival in the region during the four segments of the pageant. Entertainment that kept ties with the Carnival theme were performances by The San Pedro AIDS Commission Carnaval Group with the opening act, the Belize National Dance Company with Belizean Soca Entertainer Ernestine Carballo and Alma Caribeña dance group from Mexico. The pageant was hosted by Mr. Eiden Salazar and Karen Jordan, Miss Costa Maya 2012 from Panama.

The eight contestants dazzled in their National/Cultural costumes, flirted with the audience during the swimsuit competition and captivated everybody in their elegant evening gowns. The National/Cultural costume competition was won by Miss Honduras; points of that competition did not have any bearing on the final selection process of Miss Costa Maya.

The eight contestants representing the Mundo Maya countries of Central America, including Mexico included Miss Belize Samalia Vernon, Miss Costa Rica Corlina On Porras, Miss El Salvador Genesis Margarita Fuentes Bolaños, Miss Guatemala Lisa Hayet Francis, Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle, Miss Mexico Samantha Gutíerrez Gónzalez-Rubio, Miss Nicaragua Yuliset Laguna, and Miss Panama Maria Saavendra.

Special tribute was given to the late Maria Jose Alvarado, Miss Honduras 2014 contestant who was murdered in her home country soon after she had participated in the Costa Maya Pageant. Miss Costa Maya 2014, Elisa Gomez joined the contestants on stage as a song was dedicated to the fallen beauty queen.

The announcement of the top three contestants followed with honors of third place given to Miss Belize, second place to Miss El Salvador and the crown to Miss Honduras. Judging the pageant were Tanya Giacoman Ayala, Gricel Graniel, Manuel Ancona, Diane Tabony and Idolly Saldivar.

Click Link to Watch Video Highlights of Costa Maya Pageant 2015: https://youtu.be/7h0zJt_400k