With the beginning of the year 2018, Miss Universe Ecuador, Daniela Cepeda from Guayas has come to the end of her reign. She is soon set to pass on her crown to her successor, and the search for the same has begun. Slated to take place on May 5, 2018, in Machala, Miss Ecuador 2018 will be the 64th edition of Miss Ecuador pageant.
The pageant helps select two representatives from the country who would then represent it in two major international pageants, Miss Universe and Miss International. The winner of the competition goes forward to compete at Miss Universe. The country is yet to win its first Miss Universe crown. At the Miss Universe pageant in 2013 Constanza María Báez Jalil, Miss Universe Ecuador, was titled as the second runner-up to Miss Universe 2013, Gabriela Isler. Ecuador has been participating at the said event since 1955, wherein it has placed thrice in the semi-finals.
Even before the names of the contestants were announced, the pageant was brought to the limelight due to the alleged pulling back of a contestant. Kristel Ludeña decided to leave the competition. In social networks, it was being said that Ecuador’s beauty Queens are retiring because they already know that Virginia comes alone to pick up her crown because she is the candidate to win.
However, it seems as just a hoax, considering that her name is present in the list of the contestants fro the Miss Universe Ecuador 2018 crown.
Here are the 22 candidates competing this year -
Mayra Bravo
Lisseth Naranjo
Blanca Arambulo
Norma Tejada
Valeria Guarnizo
Kristel Ludeña
Ximena Arroyo
Gabriela Carrillo
Iskra Landucci
Michelle Huet
Mónica Fajardo
Ylinka Draskovic
Allison Matamoros
Daniela Luscher
Virginia Limongi
Fernanda Yépez
Gabriela Jiménez
Valeria Zambrano
Patricia Jaramillo
Jeszen Yohst
Abigail Soria
Bertha Ximena Arroyo