Sheila Montero is New Miss Garifuna San Pedro

Four young Garifuna ladies contested the title of Miss Garifuna San Pedro on the eve of Garifuna Settlement Day, Wednesday, November 18, 2015, Ambergris Caye. The Garifuna community of the island got together with the San Pedro Town Council and San Pedro House of Culture to put on a very beautiful pageant that was more educational event than a beauty pageant.

The Miss Garifuna pageant has always been more about selecting the contestant who is more knowledgeable of her ethnic group’s culture, lifestyle, food, clothing and language. The pageant was hosted in both English and Garifuna, but the contestants were only allowed to speak in Garifuna to test their fluency in the language.

The show consisted of the four contestants presenting themselves to the audience while performing the various types of Garifuna music styles, including a question and answer segment; entertainment was provided by the Black & White Charikanari Dancers.

Contestants included Zennia Nunez, Michelle Martinez, Ashanti Martinez and Sheila Montero; Ashanti was selected as first runner up. Garifuna Settlement Day and the Miss Garifuna Pageant were observed under the theme: “God is the strength of all things, Garifuna Progress lies in Education and Hard Work.”