Dubai: Adding to its list of many precedents, Dubai is all set to host the region’s first ever Latina beauty pageant.
Organised by event producer LS Productions and entertainment company Batuta Events, Miss Latina Middle East 2016 will be held at the Wafi Rooftop Gardens on February 5, featuring Latina beauties from the Middle East and the Levant.
Venezuelan Lorena Serrano of LS Productions, who has been working in the events industry in Dubai for seven years, told XPRESS she was inspired to introduce a Latina pageant in the region for many reasons. “Latina women are extraordinarily beautiful as they have an exotic combination of African, European and American roots. With over 30 International pageant victories, Latin America takes the lead in producing the world’s most outstanding candidates.”
Intensive training
She said 11 shortlisted candidates will undergo certified intensive training modules starting January 8. The contestants are all Latin Americans or Spaniards aged 18-30 and living in Middle East countries like the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt.
She said: “The Middle East is home to a sizeable Spanish and Portuguese speaking population. The UAE alone has over 40,000 residents from Spain and Latin America together. Our idea behind Miss Latina Middle East is to create a world-class pageant that celebrates the incredible beauty, talent and passion of Latin American women in the region.”
Candidates will be evaluated on protocol, etiquette, make-up, catwalk, posing, fitness, nutrition, public speaking and dance, among other skills. Professional coaches and missologists have been retained to groom them.
Ana Maria Rey, Director, Batuta Events, said Miss Latina Middle East is more than just a beauty pageant. “We want to showcase to the Arab world the richness and diversity of our culture by making the gala final an elite gathering that celebrates music, dance, fashion, cuisine and more.”
The jury, which is still being finalised, will include among others Yousif Naeemat, organizer of world-renowned pageants.
Serrano said the 11 finalists are: Adriana Ureña, 30 (Colombia); Andrea Laura, 24 (Argentina); Diana Patricia Mantilla, 27 (Colombia); Eliven A. Brown, 29 (Colombia); Faten Suleyman, 20 (Spain); Karelia Lujan, 25 (Peru); Katherine Sarria Tamayo, 26 (Colombia); Maria Alvarado, 25 (Guatemala); Antonieta Mendoza, 26 (Venezuela); Victoria de la Garza; 20 (Mexico); and Luana Silveira, 24 (Brazil).
