Santa Cruz de Tenerife reminisced about the era of great musical hits from nineties television as it crowned its Carnival Queen on Wednesday night, with young Corina Mrazek González emerging victorious among a total of eleven candidates.
Representing the Añaza Carrefour shopping centre with a design by Santi Castro, Corina clinched the traditional Tenerife scepter for the third consecutive year, after securing first prize in both 2022 and 2023.
The rest of the court of honour includes Lucía Hernández Alonso as the first lady, Ankirian Idariana Marcano as the second lady, and Nancy González Bethencor and Rosalva Morales Benítez as the third and fourth lady, respectively.
The Carnival Queen Gala commenced around 9:30 p.m., marking the start of a musical journey led by comedian Aaron Gómez, who immersed the Tenerife capital in classic television melodies such as “I’ll be there for you” from the popular series “Friends” and “You have to come to the south,” by Rafaella Carrá.
The historical journey resonated with a resounding ovation from the audience, blending seamlessly with a lively rap by Gómez, evoking the classic Carnival nights, with early morning gatherings in Plaza España and the aroma of roast potatoes.
An Excursion to the Heart of Broadway with a Latin Twist
In essence, the 5,000 attendees at the Fairgrounds of the Tenerife capital not only revelled in the style of Broadway or Madrid musicals, but also recalled the Latin splendour, paying homage to artists like Celia Cruz.
Following this extensive and musical overture, which welcomed all the Carnival groups and bid farewell to the outgoing Queen, Adriana Peña, the stars of the night took the stage – the eleven candidates.
The Carnival Queen Gala showcased the artistic continuity of the director, Jep Meléndez, and the enthusiasm to give all the protagonists of the island celebration their ‘golden minute’, particularly in bidding farewell to the murgas.
So much so that the modern carnival theme of television seamlessly blended with the island tradition, as evidenced by the musical groups’ tribute to the Spanish series “Tell me how it happened” and the fusion of “last dance” with the Tenerife troupes.
Latin Rhythms and an Artistic Deluge: ‘I will survive’
As the magic of television concluded, the 21st century awakened the Tenerife Fairgrounds with the Latin rhythms of Tony Tun Tun and the eagerly anticipated artistic storm in Santa Cruz, Mónica Naranjo, who captivated the audience with her classic “I will Survive.”
The panel of judges, which awarded the crown to Corina Mrazek González, included the artist Bárbara Rey, the illustrator Aarón Morales, the film costume designer Héctor León, the renowned makeup artist Alberto Dugarte, and the Fine Arts graduate Alejandro Tosco.
Also contributing to the event were the artist Patricia Yurena, the actress Nieves Bravo, the presenter Desiré Hernández, the actress Marlene Mourreau, the aesthetic doctor Tania Betancor, as well as the journalists Jorge Moreno and Roberto Herrera.
The event, hosted by RTVC presenters Eloísa González and Elvis Sanfiel, culminated with an overwhelming sense of excitement and satisfaction, leaving a lasting impression of the evening’s unforgettable moments.
