Quito’s most memorable queens: meet the sovereign who stayed in office for two years during the pandemic

An event Queen of Quito, now Queen of San Francisco de Quito, It is celebrated during the month of November every year and marks the beginning of the festivities of the Fundación de Quito. Since 2019, it has been organized by the Queen of Quita Foundation, which preserves the history of queens and their works. Election of the queen 2024-2025. will take place today at the Bolívar Theater at 20:00.

The current beauty representative of Quito is María Esther Hernández, which implements the SanaMenta social project. “As a woman who has been fortunate and privileged to have resources and access to mental health information, I recognize the importance of addressing these issues in order to identify and treat possible tendencies toward depression and anxiety.”

The foundation states on its official website Estefy Barreno (2019-2021), the only sovereign who performed this job for two years in a row, something that happened at the time when the mayor suspended the elections, and the foundation took it over completely, under the name Reina de San Francisco de Quito.

Barren’s project was ‘Quito leave your mark’, i During the pandemic, he focused on the introduction of virtuality in the foundation’s Therapy Center for children and youth with Down syndrome. in early care and inclusive education programs. “In these difficult times, we strive to create a circle of empathy in which we show the human qualities of all Quito residents,” said the former queen, who is dedicated to organizing the event.

Apart from them, who are the most memorable misses of this pageant, which has been held since 1959?

Paola Vintimilla (1991 – 1992), which is part of the group of active mothers, that is, they continue to cooperate with the foundation. “I have been a volunteer for more than ten years and I hope with all my soul that I will be a member for many more years, because it is an active part of my life and my family.” She was Miss South America in 1994. She is a model, a news anchor and was actively involved in politics.

Macarena Valarezo (1992 – 1993). “The rule of Quito marked my life,” said the communicator, now a participant Celebrity Masterchef Ecuador. “It was the most beautiful year with the best memories I had so far… I learned so much!” Their work was aimed at collecting funds for the construction of a building in which the Home Helper Training Center would operate, which later became Proyecto Apoyo, and is currently the headquarters of the Learning to Live Children’s Center.

Daniela del Castillo (1995 – 1996) She is a host on TVentas, and became famous because she replaced the crown with a wig and clown makeup on several occasions, in order to animate children’s events in a solidarity way. “Vladavina was the best university in my life, I thank God and all the people who supported me, and my children for knowing that their mother and grandmother were the queens of Quito.”

María José Jervis (1996 – 1997). “The Queen of Quito Foundation is doing ant work, and if the queen ant has enough energy, it apparently infects everyone’s souls.”

Paulina Espinosa Andrade (2000 – 2001). News anchor and councilman. “If we don’t live to serve, we don’t serve to live”, is their motto.

Ana María Serrano (1997 – 1998), She is also a television presenter, for many years on TC, and now on Cablenoticias. “The foundation is a magical place where things happen, dreams come true, the impossible does not exist, friends are forever, and selfless help is real.”

María Gabriela Galárraga (2005 – 2006). “To reign is to fall in love with Quito and become an actor committed to changing and improving this beautiful city.” The foundation describes her as an ‘exceptional’ woman, still associated with social work. She held the first Blue Hearts concert and participated in the creation of the Don Bosco Kindergarten, for the children of street vendors.

Cristina Saona (1987 – 1988) She is known for her leading role on TVentas for 17 years. “I am left with a pleasant feeling of the work done and the certainty that as human beings we are responsible for each other.”

Lucia Burneo (1978 – 1979) She stood out because the inmates of the Center for the Rehabilitation of Women in her town, because of the social work that is carried out with them, chose her as the ‘Queen of the Prison’. He is currently an activist for issues of ecology and nature protection. She was a Quito councilor and deputy.

He was one of the first representatives of beauty and social work in Quito Rocío Avilés Borja (1969 – 1970), recently awarded the award that bears her name, which will be given to prominent women of the city. “This is the concern that we have led in the Foundation, in order to make it clear that it is a rule of service that cannot fall into frivolity”, were the words of the former queen.