Crowned Miss Earth 2021 as the first Belizean to hold that title, Destiny Wagner—the 26-year-old Punta Gorda native—marks another milestone: gracing the covers of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam! Celebrating beauty and versatility in the industry, Wagner took the opportunity to discuss the representations of persons of color (POC), her natural hair, and the contempt some may have for it. Besides being the first Belizean to hold a major international beauty title, Wagner is also the second Black woman to win the Miss Earth pageant since its launch in April 2001.
“І thіnk fоr уеаrѕ blасk wоmеn hаvе bееn роlісеd fоr thеіr hаіr,” Wаgnеr says. “Ноwеvеr, rерrеѕеntаtіоn іѕ ѕо іmроrtаnt! Wоmеn аrе bоrn іn dіffеrеnt ѕhареѕ аnd ѕіzеѕ, dіffеrеnt ѕkіn tоnеѕ, аnd dіffеrеnt hаіr tуреѕ. І аm blеѕѕеd tо bе а rерrеѕеntаtіvе оf thе еаrth аnd rерrеѕеnt vаrіоuѕ сulturеѕ but mоrе іmроrtаntlу аdvосаtе fоr unіtу аnd lоvе.”
Announcing the incredible news of gracing an international magazine cover, Wagner excitedly captioned the covers via her Instagram with “A Rasta gal from PG [Punta Gorda]! What a time to be alive!”
An International Stage

Miss Earth 2021 Destiny Wagner is named Sustainable Tourism Ambassador to Belize. Image via BTB.
In February 2022, Miss Earth 2021 Destiny Wagner was named as Sustainable Tourism Ambassador by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), the governing body of Belize’s Tourism Industry that focuses on progressive and sustainable developments. Both in-country and on the international stage, the beauty queen will work alongside BTB in promoting the ecotourism of her country and protecting its natural resources.

Image via Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam.
Destiny’s titles have since taken her across Belize and North America but this month, Destina was recently unveiled as the surprise guest and one of the judges of Hoa hậu các Dân tộc Việt Nam 2022, during the pageant’s grand launching and press conference in Caravelle Hotel Saigon, Vietnam.
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Last year as Destiny brought the first international beauty crown to Belize while surpassing 79 other beauties, Wagner’s campaign heavily advocated for Marine Conservation. Considering Belize boasts the second-largest barrier reef in the world, the beauty queen chose Scuba Diving as her sport of choice alongside Splash Dive Center.
Keep up with the reigning Belizean Miss Earth 2021 Destiny Wagner while in Vietnam on Facebook and Instagram.