“The expectation to recover what we lost in 2020 is very high; We all really want to enjoy the best Carnival in the world again, so live the experience intensely”. This is how the mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, addressed yesterday to 34 of the 36 candidates who aspire to Queen of Carnival in the different categories at the official reception offered by the Santa Cruz City Council.
Some applicants whose ages oscillate between 5 years of Chloe and 86 of Meca, and among which the illusion and desire of which the mayor spoke were the predominant note. Some, like Elena, at 21, admitted that she was not a carnival fan at all, but that her friendship with her designer, Jorge González, allowed her to decide to present herself. Along with her, the other candidate who is also presented by the same designer, Alba, who at her 29th, does admit to being “very carnival”, although it is also her first time in the contest. Others like Luna, at only 23 years old, it is the second time that she has presented herself as Carnival Queen. “I presented myself in 2018 with my designer, Alfonso Baute, and this year we have decided to repeat it,” she indicated.
Among the candidates for Queen of the Majors, América González, at 86, looked splendid and not at all nervous. “At our age there are no longer nerves,” she assured. Every year she runs the Cross María Auxiliadora in La Orotava and has also been presented at Romera Mayor in her municipality. “The mayor told me that he had to introduce me and here I am,” she says naturally. María Julia Bello also aspires to the scepter of Queen of the Elderly, and, in her case, at her 63rd, she admits that she is looking forward to it. “There was a casting for Turismo de Arona and my daughters (she has three) encouraged me to present myself. I did it, and here I am.”
Chloe, 5 years old, is very sure of her candidacy. When she is asked if she is the shortest, she says that she is not and points to another girl who, in height, is indeed the shortest. That other girl was Nayara, who at seven years old said she was very happy to run for Children’s Queen.
In total there are 36 candidates who aspire to become Carnival Queen, 15 participate in the adult category; 13, in the children’s, and eight, in the older ones. Next Friday the order of participation in the different galas will be raffled.
The 15 candidates for Adult Queen are: Luna Hibner, Hirisley Jiménez, Mayte Gutiérrez, Andrea Nazco, Adriana Peña, Tibisay Sanabria, Elena Rodríguez, Marta Santana, Gabriela Luis, Patricia Lara, Damaris Cabrera, Alicia Gómez, Rosaura Pérez, Laura Fernández and Alba Olmos. His gala will be held on February 15.
The candidates for Child Queen are: Delioma Martín, Ione Díaz, Iraya Hernández, Aroa Martín, Violeta Pérez, Mª Teodora Pérez, Paola Bello, Carla López, Chloe Rodríguez, Saray León, Lucía González, Nayara Plasencia and Noa León. His gala will be on February 8.
The eight candidates for Queen of the majors are: América González, María del Pilar Martín, Asunción Mª Reyes, Mª Julia Bello, Sabina Mendoza and Mª Josefa Pérez.
