A new Queen of the Bay will be chosen on Saturday night and you'll meet the contestants in a few, but first we'll tell you about a controversy brewing with last year's queens.

As you may know, 2005 Queen of the Bay Carrie Wong K famously left Belize earlier this year to attend the Air Force Academy in Colorado. She was replaced at public events by first runner up Leesha Pollard. Family and friends close to Carrie tell 7NEWS that she wants to be here this weekend to hand over reign but she needs a plane ticket. If Carrie Wong K arrives in time, she will do the handing over. Leesha Pollard will however still be a queen. So in other words, there will be two queens for 2005. This also won't be the first time in history that there have been two queens in one year.

And while there will be two queens for 2005, there will be only winner for the 2006 pageant on Saturday night. The 61st queen will be chosen from a field of nine. We've spent the last two days with the girls and Keith Swift has the story.

Keith Swift Reporting,
Meet the girls who want to be the next Queen of the Bay.

Audrey Augustine, Queen of the West
Sheny Lara, Benque Viejo
Kimberly Pitts, Belmopan
Samantha Martinez, Caribbean Sea
Shadene Ottley, City of Belize
Lisa Marie Jones, Old Belize
Blanca Yasmin Sanabria, Orange Walk
Angela Lozano, Stann Creek
Stephanie Martinez, Toledo

The age of the contestants vary; at age 17 Stephanie Martinez from Toledo is the youngest. Their experience also varies. This pageant is a first for Kimberly Pitts from Belmopan. She is standing next to Samantha Martinez - the reigning Miss Ladyville Technical High.

Kimberly Pitts, Miss Belmopan
"I feel very nervous, a little bit."

Samantha Martinez, Miss Caribbean
"This is not a first for me. Actually I entered a high school pageant that I came first. I am still the reigning queen of Miss Ladyville Technical High School."

But the one thing these girls do have in common is that they all want a place in pageant history.

Audrey Augustine, Queen of the West
"I decided to join the pageant because it's a way to give back to my country and be patriotic but more importantly to practice to socializing skills and to display my talents."

Sheny Lara, Miss Benque Viejo
"I entered the pageant because I was motivated by my family and I want to show my patriotism to Belize."

Samantha Martinez, Miss Caribbean Sea
"I decided to enter this pageant so that I can be a role model for young girls my age and encourage to participate in such a prestigious pageant."

Keith Swift,
Is this your first pageant?

Shadene Ottley, Miss City of Belize
"No sir. I have three year experience in pageants. I have confidence that I can do it. The closest I came to is third place and I think I can do it this time. Nothing beats a trial but a failure."

Blanca Yasmin Sanabria, Miss Orange Walk
"I decided to enter the pageant because it is a prestigious one. It is my first time and I am trying my best and doing my best."

Keith Swift,
What will it mean to you to win?

Blanca Yasmin Sanabria,
"To me it will mean something very wonderful, exciting. It will be a dream come true for me."

It is a dream that will become true for one of these girls on Saturday night. Only one but which one?

Saturday night's pageant will be held at the City Center. We should note that Carrie Wong K will be here for a fundraising ball on September 8th. It is $80 a head and the money will go to a scholarship fund she helped to create.