Miss Ecuador 2017 is on its road to the finale, with 22 contestants competing for the coveted title this year. And amongst the list of the beautiful aspirants for Miss Ecuador 2017 are medical students, comunicators, an agriculture engineer, the cabin head for an international airline and a flamenco dancer. At the finale scheduled to be held on April 22nd 2017, Ecuador's represenatatives for Miss Universe 2017, Miss International 2017, and Miss Supranational 2017 will be crowned.
The 22 contestants were presented to the press on February 13th 2017 at the City Hall in the city of Babahoyo, (Los Ríos), which is also the venue for the finals of Miss Ecuador 2017. The contestants will compete through a series of preliminary events leading to the finale. "It is an honor to be in this city, three years ago I was here as a student and as a missionary. Now I come as a candidate starting to crystallize a dream I've had since I was a child," said 24 year old Hillary Estupiñán Mina representing the African women from the city of San Lorenzo.
The event was recorded and will be shown during the gala finale. The presentation was attended by various prominent personalities as well as the family of the contestants. Each delegate expressed the satisfaction of being part of the most important beauty contest in Ecuador. The contestants were provided with the official sashes and later all the 22 finalists posed for photos.
The 22 finalists presented to media are Joanna Nicole Hidalgo Silva from Riobamba (Chimborazo), Ana Gabriela Caicedo Toro from Pujilí (Cotopaxi), Hillary Estupiñán Mina from San Lorenzo (Esmeraldas), Bianca Nicole Benavides Gómez from Guayaquil (Guayas), Dayanara Mishelle Peralta Loor from Guayaquil (Guayas), Génesis Stefanía Parra Pico from Naranjal (Guayas), María Belén Ruiz Velasco from Guayaquil (Guayas), María Daniela Cepeda Matamoros from Guayaquil (Guayas), Mónica Leticia González Echeverría from Guayaquil (Guayas), Sofía Gabriela Peñafiel Torres from Guayaquil (Guayas), María José Villacís Avendaño from Ibarra (Imbabura), Zully Alejandra Granda Jaramillo from Puyango (Loja), María Fernanda Muñoz Jiménez from Vinces (Los Ríos), Mirna Yalena Avilés Cercado from Vinces (Los Ríos), Rosie Alegría Torres Cadena from Quevedo (Los Ríos), Corina Isabel Zambrano Valderrama from Tosagua (Manabí), Jocelyn Daniela Mieles Zambrano from Manta (Manabí), Katheryne Eliana López España from Pedernales (Manabí), Laura Mercedes Macías Vélez from Santa Ana (Manabí), Analía Viviana Vernaza Daulón from Quito (Pichincha), Wendy Carolina Carrillo Morales from Quito (Pichincha) and Marjorie Marlene Vivas Medranda from Santo Domingo de los Colorados (Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas).
Although the competition is tough, all the girls are positive about their performance, and are ready to give their best to clinch the title. One of the finalists, Yalena Avilés Cercado, said that it is an honour to represent Vinces (Los Ríos) and would like to win the crown for her province. While Bianca Benavides, representative of Guayas (Guayaquil), said she is preparing to fulfil her dream of representing Ecuador.
Ecuador has never won any Miss Universe or Miss World title till date, though it won the Miss International crown once, when Maria Fernanda Cornejo was crowned Miss International 2011 at the finals of the international pageant held on November 6' 2011 in Chengdu, China.
Last year, Connie Jimenez was crowned as Miss Ecuador 2016 and represented the country at Miss Universe 2016 pageant, however remained unplaceed. 21 year old beauty, who won many hearts by winning the Miss Ecuador beauty pageant, has continued to do so by supporting many families that have been affected by natural calamities. She helps the April Earthquake victims whole-heartedly. Besides volunteering for this purpose, the beauty is also involved with a Diabetes Organization called FUVIDA to create awareness about a healthy lifestyle and to help the people of Ecuador fight early deaths. The stunner has also carried forward Pia’s advocacy by helping at the Mariana De Jesús Hospital, for the prevention of new-borns catching the HIV infection.
Connie was also present at the press presentation of Miss Ecuador 2017 and expressed her excitement as she said, "When we think of Miss Ecuador we do not just think of a crown or a ribbon, we think of a stage full of beautiful women, so I hope everyone can take advantage and enjoy this opportunity."