Puerto de la Cruz has set a maximum age of 30 for candidates in this year’s July Festival Queen contest… and it’s raised a few eyebrows.
The New Limits
To take part, candidates must:
- Be between 17 and 30 years old
- Be born between 1995 and 2006
- Not turn 31 before the gala on 9th July
Entries are open until 22nd May, so there’s still time for anyone thinking about it.
Other Requirements
There are a few extra conditions as well.
Participants must:
- Be born in or living in Puerto de la Cruz
- Not have previously won the title
- Not have been a queen or runner-up in the town’s International Carnival
So it’s fairly specific.
How It’s Judged
The judging criteria hasn’t changed much.
They’ll be looking at things like:
- Appearance
- Elegance
- Natural presence
- Overall suitability
Standard for these kinds of events.
Not Everyone Does It This Way
Interestingly, not all municipalities follow the same approach.
Places like Santa Cruz don’t set a maximum age for adult candidates… while others, like Candelaria or Icod, have moved away from these contests altogether.
The Bigger Picture
There’s been no real explanation for the 30-year cap this time around.
It’s not new though… similar limits have been used before, just with different age cut-offs.
Whether people see it as tradition or a bit outdated probably depends on who you ask.