Much has changed, including times and tastes, since that year in 1935, when the first ever Carnival Queen was chosen in the history of Chicharrero Carnival. The winner was Onagra Lorenzo Díaz with a design created by her and her sister, Magda Mikaela, named Vampiresa 1933, representing the Círculo de Amistad XII de enero.
Onagra, born in the Toscal neighbourhood in 1919, was crowned Miss Carnaval with a costume inspired by a recently screened film at the Royal Victoria cinema.
The following year, in 1936, it was Ana de la Torre del Pino who claimed the title in its second edition. This time, our dazzling queen, Miss de Carnaval, wore a fantasy outfit named Ana, Empress of Austria, designed by Hermógenes González de Guisado, also representing the Círculo de la Amistad XII de Enero.
There was a hiatus in the competition from 1937 to 1964, after which this carnival tradition was revived in 1965 and has continued to the present day, with the exception of 2021 due to the pandemic.
Thus, during the 1960s, the Carnival Queen contest made a strong comeback in the capital of Tenerife.
In 1965, María de los Ángeles Gimbernat, with her fantasy outfit My Fair Lady, designed by María Isabel Coello and representing the Casino de Santa Cruz, was crowned the Queen of the Winter Festivities.
The following year, in 1966, Ana García Torres with the costume Colombia, once again designed by María Isabel Coello, represented Los Fregolinos. The year 1967 was another successful year for this designer. Coello dressed the queen, Margarita Moreno Rodríguez, who, with the fantasy Mongoll, from Galerías Herrera, took the crown. She also dressed the queens of 1968, 1969 and 1970. Josefina Soriano Vela, with the fantasy Diosa del Sol, representing Los Fregolinos; Victoria Rodríguez Díaz, with Sirena, from the Club Marítimo Atlántico; and, also from Marítimo, Rosina Hernández Hernández, as Diosa del Juego, were the queens of the following years dressed by the renowned designer.
With the change of decade came new designs and styles for the costumes of our queens. María del Carmen Estévez Rodríguez was an impressive Princess Turandot, designed by Cedrés, representing the Caja General de Ahorros de Canarias, crowning in 1971. The following year, for the first time in the history of this tradition, a group of Madrid designers created the winning fantasy. With Zarina, María de la Luz Pérez Díaz became the grand queen of 1972, also representing the Club Deportivo Tenerife. The year 1973 saw Iraides Correa Cruz awarded with the fantasy Medieval, designed by the already well-known designer María Isabel Coello, representing the Real Automóvil Club.
Marifé León Peña was the Diosa de las Cuatro Estaciones designed by Luis Dávila, representing Los Bohemios in 1974. In 1975, both the designer and representatives returned, with the queen of that year being Esther Padilla Rodríguez in the fantasy Antología de las reinas del Carnaval.
The designer María Isabel Coello once again dressed another queen in 1976 and 1977. Mercedes Braun González was crowned in ‘76 representing Los Fregolinos with the fantasy Resplandor del Carnaval. In ‘77, Carmen Rosa del Toro Arteaga with her Firmamento claimed the crown representing the Círculo de Amistad.
In 1978, the victory went to Anabel Conde Pérez with the fantasy Arlequín, Gloria del Carnaval designed by Luis Dávila, representing the Casa de Venezuela.
Thus, the 1970s closed with Queen María del Carmen Pérez Herrera, representing Boutique Juan II in a costume named Sueño de mandarina, designed by Justo Gutiérrez.
In 1980, costumes began to acquire greater volume, evident in that year’s queen. Consuelo Montero Santos was a spectacular Encantadora de serpientes, with the design by frequent collaborator Justo Gutiérrez, representing the Círculo de Amistad.
In 1981, the winner was Alicia Acosta Álamo with the Reina de Saba, representing Boutique Juan II, designed by Juan Gutiérrez.
María del Pino Martín Mesa made history in the Chicharrero Carnival when she won one of the most popular contests in 1982. She did so with an Eterna Primavera, designed by Luis Dávila, representing UA El Cabo, who repeated with another Queen in 1983. This time it was Soledad Alemán Ramos with the fantasy París Frívolo by Miguel Ángel Castilla.
In 1984, Lucía Luisa Ramos Vaquero was crowned Queen of the Carnival with the design En la frontera del Universo by Justo Gutiérrez, representing the Hollywood Shopping Centre.
The Guimerá Theatre in the capital of Tenerife hosted the queen selection gala for the last time in 1984. From 1985, the event began to take place in the Bullring. Here, Seve Suárez Velázquez, representing Almacenes El Kilo, debuted the new venue as the queen with the design, once again by Justo Gutiérrez, Mi querida Josephine.
In 1986, the coveted sceptre went to María Nieves Darias Padilla with her Sangre de Volcán, designed by José Julio Rodríguez, representing the La Hoguera Shopping Centre.
The following year is one of the most remembered among the contest’s followers. The design of Tajaraste left a lasting impression on the Canary Islands audience due to its representation of the traditional island costume mixed with the fantasy of celebrations in honour of don Carnal. Mónica Raquel Estévez Martín showcased the spectacular design by Leo Martínez, representing Almacenes El Kilo in 1987.
