As the 75th Miss Universe global competition draws near this November in Puerto Rico, Belize’s national pageant franchise has entered a transformative new era, with ownership officially transferred to El Salvador-based production firm Americas Events. In a major announcement this month, the new ownership named Destiny Wagner – Belize’s groundbreaking first Miss Earth winner – as the franchise’s National Director, tasking her with overhauling the national pageant system and grooming Belize’s next contestant for the international stage. With applications already open for aspiring contestants and the national coronation slated for mid-August, local outlet News Five’s reporter Britney Gordon sat down with Wagner to unpack the transition and her vision for the program.
Wagner, who previously founded Belize Pilates, shared that the leadership appointment came as a complete shock. The deal unfolded rapidly: just one day before her public introduction as National Director, she signed her contract after a last-minute meeting with the new franchise owners in Belize. “I initially thought they wanted me to sign on Belize Pilates as the pageant’s official fitness partner – which we are still doing, and that would have been incredible on its own,” Wagner explained. “When they asked me to step into the National Director role, I was hesitant at first. But after reviewing their full proposal, which included extensive research into Belize’s culture, people, and pageant history, I was convinced this was the right move.”
Americas Events, the new franchise owner, is headquartered in El Salvador with additional offices across the United States and Central America. The foreign ownership structure has drawn some quiet questions locally, but Wagner pushed back on concerns that outside investment would undermine Belizean interests. “Foreign investment in local pageantry is not a bad thing – it brings valuable resources that young Belizean competitors simply would not have access to otherwise,” she noted. “It is very common for international pageant franchises like Miss Universe and Miss Earth to be owned by entities based outside the country they represent. I am the local face of this initiative, and I would never accept a role that would hurt our delegates or damage my country’s reputation. Belize’s best interests are at the core of every decision I will make, always.”
With just five months between now and the November Miss Universe competition, the timeline to crown and prepare Belize’s representative is tight. But Wagner, who personally pulled together her own Miss Earth preparation in just two weeks, says the compressed schedule is far from an insurmountable barrier. She has opened casting to all eligible Belizean women, urging candidates to focus on their purpose rather than the logistical challenges of preparation. “The ‘why’ behind joining has to be bigger than the question of ‘how’ you will get it all done,” she said. “I promise every contender, and the eventual winner, will get full support and all the tools they need to succeed on the global stage.”
Wagner framed her leadership approach as rooted in radical collaboration, rather than top-down management. “This is not something I can build alone, and it’s not something Belize can accomplish in isolation,” she explained. “We are inviting every person and organization that wants to collaborate to join us. Our goal is to give our eventual delegate every possible opportunity and every resource she needs – whether that support comes from local partners or international connections. When we work together, we can turn our representative into a force to be reckoned with at Miss Universe.”
The first public casting call is scheduled for July 4 at Belize Pilates, with the national Miss Universe Belize coronation set to follow in mid-August.