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Caleigh-Rose West was crowned Miss Universe Belize 2026 in San Pedro on Saturday night. West emerged victorious from a field of eight delegates during the competition held at Mahogany Bay Village Resort. Samantha Jones was named first runner-up, while Rena Thompson finished as second runner-up. West is now expected to represent Belize at the international Miss Universe competition later this year.
The event, however, received a wave of negative feedback on social media. Some viewers complained that the competition received limited advance publicity, leaving many Belizeans unaware of when and where it was being held or how they could watch it.
The sharpest criticism came during the cultural presentation, when a backdrop identified as Guatemala’s Tikal archaeological site appeared on the stage while delegates showcased Belizean heritage. Tikal is part of the wider ancient Maya civilization but is located in Guatemala, not Belize. The image quickly circulated online, with critics describing its inclusion as a significant cultural and production error. The controversy has also reignited scrutiny of the franchise’s recent change in ownership. The Miss Universe Organization reassigned the Belize license earlier this year to Americas Events, a production company based in El Salvador, after the former Miss Universe Belize Foundation indicated that it intended to pause its operations and return in 2027.
English (US) ·