Camila Dorta Díaz was crowned as the Children’s Queen of the Carnival of Santa Cruz 2025 during a gala infused with African spirit held in the fairgrounds this past Sunday. Thirteen candidates were the stars of one of the three most significant days of the Carnival, where they were introduced as the queens destined to represent the world’s second-best carnival for an entire year.
“Tritsch, shall we play? Or Tratsch, shall we sing?” was the theme that Camila Dorta Díaz presented on stage, adorned in a creation by Santi Castro and representing ICADEPRO SL. Accompanying her in the Court of Honour were Cinthya Pérez Luis, First Lady, showcasing a design by Alexis Santana; Samantha Crespo Ruiz, second lady, in a creation by Noah González; Dafne Mendoza González, third lady, dressed by Daniel Mena Beltrán; and Aliana Hernández Henrique, fourth lady, outfitted by José Ángel Ramos.
At 6:00 p.m., a video projection signalled the commencement of festivities. The compères, Jorge and Sergio, journeyed through the school in search of clues leading them to their giraffe companions, who had participated with them in the 2024 edition to introduce the contest. Suddenly, an intriguing Book of Secrets emerged in the school patio. Encouraged by their peers, Jorge and Sergio leaped towards it and, to everyone’s astonishment, were transported directly to the stage of the fairgrounds. The ensuing presentation was dynamic, well-organised, and brimming with musical elements that captivated the audience’s attention.
The mysterious book made another appearance on stage, this time blank, serving as a narrative device that guided a journey across Africa and the introduction of the jury. Among the notable figures were representatives of the continent’s wildlife, including a hyena and a lion, alongside a tribe with its queen, who turned out to be one of the jury members. The presentation incorporated references to Morocco, India, and Egypt, elements that gradually adorned the pages of the Book of the Secrets of Africa. The event also conveyed a message advocating for reading, with Sergio remarking, “Whenever I read, I embark on remarkable journeys,” underscoring the ability of books to unveil unfamiliar realms.
The judging panel comprised Nuria Bilbao, an art historian specialising in carnival; Inés Herrera González, the tailoring coordinator of the Auditorium of Tenerife; Teresa Hernández Quesada, dressmaker and designer; Sobeida Gómez, dancer, actress, and model; Teresa de Jesús Jerónimo Hernández, a graduate in Pedagogy and music instructor; Juani Brito, director of the “Good Morning Canary Islands” programme on Televisión Canaria; and Aarón Morales Pérez, a Higher Technician in Illustration Design.
With the first performance of the evening, the Joroperos Children’s Comparsa, the first group of five candidates took to the stage to an audience that was fully engaged. Following this, the performers from the choreographic contest—Loli Pérez’s team and company La Vica—entertained the crowd. On stage, the presenters, Librito, the Hyena, and a fresh appearance of the character Elephant continued their quest for the giraffes Rafa and Garafa, setting the stage for a new block comprising four candidates.
Behind them, the tribe, who claimed the first prize of the choreographic competition, captivated the audience with a choreography inspired by Narnia, thereby securing victory for the second consecutive year due to their extraordinary coordination and strength. Now, Sergio and Jorge felt more confident and ready, thanks to the encouragement of their African friends, to navigate the gala and introduce the third and final block of four candidates. Interestingly, within Librito, which initially commenced with blank pages, characters began to materialise, outlining the contest’s narrative.
After the parade of all the contestants, the telephone lines opened and the jury retreated for deliberation. The high calibre of all presented fantasies on this delightful day took the audience by surprise. Following this, all the choreographic groups of the carnival came together for an energetic joint performance. The hosts, once again alongside Hyena and Librito, then introduced the moment of “mischief,” a segment celebrating the first prize for interpretation from the Murguitas: mamelons.
The Children’s Queen 2024 made an enjoyable appearance with a humorous moment shared with her grandmother, referencing Sofía Rodríguez’s fantasy: “My favourite little while.” This was followed by a children’s tropical segment and the closing of telephone lines. Jorge and Sergio embarked on an expedition to locate the giraffes, who eventually made their appearance. They recounted their adventure, concluding with a moral that delivered a message: “Maisha or Safari,” which translates to “life is a journey” in Spanish. Thus, the book was filled, and the Carnival Sorcerer of Africa crowned the 50th Queen and her Court of Honour.
