By Belize Live News Staff: Legendary Belizean entrepreneur Marie Sharp has earned a place on the prestigious Forbes 50 Over 50 Global list, becoming the first Belizean to ever receive the honor.
At 85 years old, Sharp is being recognized for her groundbreaking work in the food industry as the founder of Marie Sharp’s Fine Foods, a brand that began with homegrown habanero peppers and grew into an internationally recognized name.
Sharp’s journey started after she left teaching elementary school and began experimenting with hot sauce recipes in her garden. Encouraged by friends, she began selling her sauces in the early 1980s, eventually exporting them to the United States.
Despite facing a trademark dispute that forced a name change, Sharp launched Marie Sharp’s Fine Foods in 1992, expanding into sauces, jams, and seasonings. In 2016, she was inducted into the Hot Sauce Hall of Fame.
The Forbes list celebrates women over 50 who have achieved their greatest professional success later in life, challenging ageism and highlighting leadership, innovation, and impact.
