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Marisha Betancourt: Placencia Carnival Queen of Queens
Marisha Betancourt leads the Carnival Queens at the 2013 Independence Day Carnival.
ated her Carnival Queens dance group for the Placencia Independence Day t was 2005, just a year festivity. With the help of after moving to Pla- Alva Leslie of Placencia cencia Village from Village (deceased), the girls Corozal when a 19-year-old proudly sported patriotic Marisha Betancourt with costumes made of red, family ties in P-Town cre- white and blue plastic bags. By JOLIE POLLARD
I
Fast forward 13 years and “The Carnival Queens” are fit to participate in any renowned Caribbean carnival donning elaborate feathered head pieces and bejeweled dance suits. What makes these girls stand out each year at our
carnival, however, is their disciplined dance routine developed by their dedicated and selfless mentor. Now 32-years-old, Marisha hasn’t relented once from her passionate volunteerism during the September
Celebrations even though she had considered retiring this year. “These girls and young ladies came once again knocking on my door
See CARNIVAL QUEENS on page 25
