Email

Print

So even though most people nowadays find their Calendars on their cell phones, Belikin keeps making the Calendar their top marketing product. Alex Courtney went to the Radisson on Saturday to find out why:...

Alex Courtenay reporting
The Belikin calendar is back, and as usual scores of eager fans lined the room, waiting to get their own calendars signed. This year, instead of the typical bikini clad girls on the beach, the models posed in the bars of Belize.

Shelley Stonesifer - Chief Marketing Officer, Bowen&Bowen
"This year when we got to thinking about what we were going to do, we decided we need to film where we drink beer. So we went to some of our most popular bars in each District. Every fantastic bar throughout the districts. We went to where they sell a ton of Belikin and have a lot of fun doing it and we film the girls modeling at those locations."

Jayson Solis - Belikin Brand Coordinator
"Well the theme was to expose the bars of Belize. We work very closely with our customers and so we took this opportunity to give back to them - show them some love. A new part of the whole calendar structure this year is that after the official launch we are having different mini-launches across the country. So it's a great opportunity to not only show different parts of Belize, by also strengthen our relationships with our customers and showcase their great bars which they are very proud of."

And while the calendars are a success each year, it's not without is critics. Some may say that the calendars objectify women, but the Belikin team told us otherwise.

Jason Solis
"We've come a long way in terms of the reputation of the Belikin calendar, stepping up the overall game in terms of what people think of the calendar and so we wouldn't want to go back on that now. So every year it's the same thing, making sure that everything is professional, making sure that we have the best photographers, the best crew to work with and even on a night like this, we make sure that the girls are well taken care of and that we have enough hands on deck to pamper them and make sure that this is the best experience for them."

And the girls felt the same way. According to them, the whole experience, from the photoshoots to the calendar launch has been amazing.

Dianira Rivera - Miss April 2017
"Being with everyone, the cast is so friendly and everyone is so open and they make you feel so comfortable just doing it. They feel like a family when you're doing it."

Jenna Cammarano - Miss June 2017
"Well it just feels a little bit exciting to get everyone to come and recognize you and to sign the calendars, see all your friends faces, your family, all the support, all the love - we do it for Belize."

Renee Martinez - Miss November
"Well actually it's really good because we are promoting Belize and Belikin is the beer of Belize. So it is a good feeling and the crowd here is really big, so it's a nice feeling."

And though their experience has been good so far, the models say they prepared for some negative criticism.

Jenna Cammarano
"This is my philosophy in life: "you do your best, you achieve your goal, you go for what you want and you don't care really about what anybody has to say about you"."

Dianira Rivera
"I think you should just take everything in a positive way. As long as you are having a good time doing it, It doesn't matter."

Tesla Guity - Cover/Miss December 2017
"Well in my thought at the end of the day, I really don't go by what people have to say or the judgmental type of people, I just go by my own personality and what I like is what I like and what you like is what you don't like - that's on you."

Regardless of how people feel about the calendar, it is one of Belize's most popular. The model selection process for the next edition of the calendar will start next year, and this year's models had some advice for their successors.

Jenna Cammarano
"My advice is to look yourself in the mirror, pull your shoulders up, smile, come to the launch, sign. I think everybody gets a call, but there is a certain personality and you have to have that little outgoing to impress them. You can't be a shy person. If you are shy its easy. I mean just start taking some selfie for starters and then it's all about being in front of the camera."

Dianira Rivera
"I was shy at first, and I would say just go for it. If it's something that you truly want to do, then just go ahead and do it."

As a promotional special, the calendar sold for 10 dollars on Saturday night.