A 21-year-old student in her third year of Law at the University of La Laguna, she has had a long-standing dream of running for Carnival Queen and is now embracing the opportunity to make it a reality.
From a young age, she has always been focused on her goal and is determined to achieve it: passing the National Police Inspector exam to work in the Scientific Police or alternatively becoming a notary.
Originally from Los Realejos, she works as a dance instructor at the La Barca Dance School. Her ambition to run for Queen of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is now within reach, having already gained experience in her hometown. In 2012, she was crowned children’s queen, and in 2022, she appeared at the adult gala and obtained the title of first lady.
-How did you manage to juggle exams, outfit fittings, and rehearsals?
“I am very organized and responsible with my commitments; thus, I have been able to balance my academic exams, which I have all successfully passed, with my work and the Carnival fantasy team. I have strived to be fully involved from day one, as it allows me to experience this moment with heightened intensity.”
-How have you been preparing to bear the weight of the costume?
“While I had been a gym member before, I have focused on more targeted exercises in recent months, particularly hip exercises, to build strength for carrying the costume. Like all fantasies, it is quite weighty, but so far, I have been able to move with ease.”
-How would you describe your fantasy ‘Amanece’?
“As my designer, Arganda Lorenzo Padrón, expresses, it will be a representation of a jewel. It is something innovative, distinctive, and simultaneously elegant.”
-What significance does becoming the next Queen of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife hold for you?
“Running for Carnival Queen has been a long-held dream for me, and I am now on the verge of making it a reality. Securing the title would be truly extraordinary and would fill me with pride, as it represents an immense amount of dedication and support from many devoted individuals, a sentiment that would transcend beyond my personal joy to my family and the entire Nira Carnival Cultural Association. It would bring real happiness, elevating me to cloud nine, surpassing even the current feeling I am experiencing. With only a week remaining, it feels surreal.”
-What does the carnival mean to you?
“It holds great significance for me. Since childhood, I have been an enthusiastic participant in the Los Realejos Carnival, attending the Coso parade with my family, and wholeheartedly embracing the festivities in my grandmother’s neighborhood, La Caleta de Interián, where a truly magnificent Carnival takes place and is an event that I never miss.”
-Do you have any particularly memorable costumes from past Carnivals?
“Certainly, I have fond memories of dressing up as a little orange with my classmates, as well as a fairy. I have also adorned costumes of a pirate, a cowboy, and one memorable year, I embodied a Ferrari with friends. I have an aspiration to craft a black swan costume, although this year it seems unlikely, as my focus is mainly on the gala.”
-What outfit do you plan to wear this year?
“Most likely, I will opt for one of the costumes I have preserved from previous years, as there is insufficient time to dedicate to devising a new costume. Fortunately, I have retained some costumes that are still suitable for this occasion.”
-Is the true essence of Carnival experienced in the streets?
“Undoubtedly, the street is where the real Carnival thrives. It encompasses the galas, the murgas, the comparsas, and encapsulates the spirit of people who embrace and revel in the festivities, exhibiting their exuberance and energy to fully cherish the celebration, both during the day and at night.”
-What do you believe is essential for this celebration?
“The fervor exhibited by individuals as they seek out their costumes, the presence of murgas, the galas, the comparsas, the music, the vibrancy, and the kaleidoscope of colors that adorn the streets during these days are indispensable components of this celebration.”
