By Charles Gladden
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Sept. 1, 2025
  One of the longest traditions in Belize’s history – the Queen of the Bay pageant – took place on Saturday night, August 24, at the Belize City Civic Center in Belize City, and concluded with Samantha Ramirez being crowned Queen of the Bay 2025-26.
  At the 80th Annual Queen of the Bay pageant, there were eight young ladies vying for this year’s title: Herla Ortiz – Miss San Pedro; Zailee Bood – Miss Belmopan; Alyssa Bell – Miss San Ignacio/Santa Elena; Vivica Perez – Miss Belize City; Sasha Lopez – Miss Stann Creek West; Joselin Cawich – Miss Corozal; Roxanna Shook – Miss Toledo; and Samantha Ramirez – Stann Creek Central.
  Sasha Lopez of Stann Creek West was named the first runner-up, while Alyssa Bell of San Ignacio/Santa Elena was named the second runner-up.
  Aside from the main title awarded at the end of the night, the young ladies were bestowed with awards in various categories based on scoring that started from the beginning of the campaign and continued on the pageant night.
  Ramirez took home three of eight individual awards – Best Sashing Ceremony Outfit, Best Curtsy, and Best Costume. Lopez also secured three awards – Miss Photogenic, the Emma Boiton Award, and Best Dressed. Bell and Cawich secured the Most Eloquent and Miss Amity awards, respectively.
  Ramirez will officially be succeeding outgoing Queen Deanni Laing on September 10 at the traditional St. George’s Caye Day ceremonies at Memorial Park in Belize City, where she will receive the crown, scepter, and robe.
