Belize wins first Miss Earth crown

Miss Belize Destiny Wagner was named Miss Earth 2021 after besting over 88 delegates from around the world during the Sunday finals held virtually for the second consecutive year due to the pandemic.

Wagner, a 25-year-old native of Punta Gorda, was destined to win her country’s first ever world beauty title. She also became the first woman from the Caribbean to win in Miss Earth pageant. 

Belize, a small Commonwealth nation, has only made a top 12 finalist at Miss Universe 1979.

Wagner, who speaks English, French, and Spanish, studied marketing and entrepreneurship at Pace University and Manhattan College. She moved to New York City, New York, USA in 2016 and represented Belize at Miss Caribbean USA 2016 where she won Miss Photogenic and Miss Congeniality. She was runner-up to Miss Universe Belize 2019. She was appointed as Miss Earth Belize 2021 replacing original winner Aarti Sooknandan.

“I’m so overwhelmed with emotions. This is the first for my country to bring home a title. More than anything, this win symbolizes unity, love and support,” Wagner said moments after she was called the winner. 

Miss USA Marisa Butler was named Miss Earth Air 2021 missing a back-to-back win for the USA after outgoing Miss Earth 2020 Lindsey Coffey. Miss Chile Romina Denecken van der Veen, and Miss Thailand Baitong Jareerat Pesom completed the two other elemental queens as Miss Earth Water and Miss Earth Fire, respectively.

Wagner was asked the Top 4 question ‘how far can technology go to help save the environmental situation the world is currently in,’ and answered, “I am so thankful to live in a digital age right now. Because of technology, we are able to spread awareness of things that are happening not only in my country but in other countries as well. However, technology can also be used to save our environment because by incorporating innovation and technology as well as sustainability, we can use those two things to come together. I am so thankful to be a woman now in 2021 and be able to have access to these things such as solar energy and renewable energy. When mixed together, there’s nothing that we cannot do. I am thankful to be in the digital age of technology and it will be used to save the planet.”

Miss Philippines Naelah Alshorbaji was named amongthe Top 8 together with Miss Netherlands SaartjeLangstraat, Miss Russia Anastasia Almyasheva, and Miss Venezuela Maria Daniela Velasco.

The Manila-based Miss Earth pageant, presented by Carousel Productions, headed by Ramon Monzon, president and Lorraine E. Schuck, executive vice president, is now on its 21st edition.