Halima Hoy Crowned Miss Universe Belize 2024  

After months of preparation and training, the Miss Universe 2024 Pageant was held over the weekend.  On Saturday, twenty-nine-year-old Halima Hoy competed against eight other women to take home the crown, and ultimately succeeded. Today, we spoke to Hoy, who told us all about her amazing journey. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

On Saturday, twenty-nine-year-old Halima Hoy took the stage at the Miss Universe Belize 2024 Pageant and walked away with the crown. We spoke with Hoy today, who told us what the final moment before her name was announced as the winner was like.

 

Halima Hoy, Miss Universe Belize, 2024

“For a second, It was totally blank, you here William in the back talking and its blurred out. And then all I could do was pray in that moment, because that’s when it hit me that it can all end for me right here. Just one word. One named called and it can end for me and that’s the last thing I wanted. I made it so far, and I just kept saying God you brought me here for a reason. All the way here. Let’s make it happen. And then my name was called and the emotions just flowed and I think you could see that on my face.”

 

Hoy is a certified personal trainer, studying to get her bachelor’s degree in allied health. One of the main causes she is advocating for is health and education, which she told us about in an earlier interview.

 

Halima Hoy

“I’m passionate about family, friendship, health and fitness and education. I specifically believe that the people that you surround yourself with really shapes who you are. And that is why I’m really grateful for my circle, my husband, my friends and family members. And I also believe that, it sounds cliché, but I also believe that education is key. In order to make it out of any situation, to climb higher, to better yourself, we need to keep education yourself. Whether that’s in school or a more non-traditional environment.”

 

Hoy said that she is advocating to bring awareness to health and fitness in communities in south side Belize City, such as Port Loyola, where she grew up.  Hoy said that she is grateful that the pageant embraced diversity in its participants this year, opening up doors for married and older women to compete.

 

Halima Hoy

“They took off the rule about married women so now I can finally push forward and achieve the dream that I had growing up. Growing up in south side Belize City, I never thought that I could ever be a beauty queen. It was always about survival; and of course, making it into a better environment. So, with my new-found discovery in confidence my the education that I’ve accumulated over the past couple years, I was confident that I could put my best foot forward and represent this country.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.