Who is Ileana Márquez, the representative of Venezuela in Miss Universe 2024?

( Spanish) – Ileana Márquez, now 28 years old, last year became the first mother to win the title of Miss Venezuela and represents her country in the 73rd edition of Miss Universe, which this year will take place this Saturday in Mexico.

“If we are looking for intelligent, beautiful women, why not include these who are mothers. Being a mother is not a crime,” said the candidate for Miss Universe 2024 in an interview with Venezuelan presenter Luis Olavarrieta.published on YouTubeon November 19.

Ileana Márquez Pedroza was born on March 19, 1996 in the city of Valencia, Venezuela. She became a mother when she was only 16 years old and, since then, as she has said in several interviews, she has had to deal with stigma and prejudice. However, he assures that “you should never lose faith, that is the last thing you lose.”

Márquez, who is also a preschool teacher, stated that what motivated her to participate in this year’s contest in her country was that “for the first time in the Miss Venezuela Organization they accept mothers, married and divorced women,” she said in an interview. published in the official Venezuelan page of the event.

In this interview, the activist also referred to one of the achievements of which she feels proud: “Completing my studies in Early Childhood Education (preschool), having achieved it as a young and single mother has been one of my greatest successes.”

Márquez added that being a mother in her youth was a decisive experience in her life, since she had to face a society in which “she did not fit into its standards.” In addition, she stressed that she feels “proud to be the mother of Guadalupe Antonella,” whom she defines as her most important driving force to continue growing as a person and as a professional.

He has no problem sharing photos with his daughter on his social networks. In May of this year, she posted an image with her on Instagram, accompanied by the phrase: “There are no perfect MOMS, only REAL ones. “Who cry but also laugh, who are afraid but still brave.”

The Venezuelan contestant highlights that her most distinctive feature is authenticity “because I am attached to my values ​​and ideals” and adds that her greatest ambition “is to be an example for all those young women who feel outside of social patterns. Help them understand that this does not define them,” stated the representative of the state of Amazonas, in the Miss Venezuela site.“God never erases a story without having something better to write. There were many no’s that they said to me until I reached the big yes for which I always worked.”

The Miss Universe s beauty pageantand will take place this year in Mexicowhere 130 participants from all over the world will take the stage in search of being part of the group of 30 finalists and reaching the final phase in which only five contestants will compete for the crown.

The preliminary competition, in which there will be parades of traditional costumes and swimwear, will be this Thursday, November 14 and the final will take place this Saturday, November 16 at the Mexico City Arena. The preliminary event can be seen this Thursday starting at 8 pm, time from central Mexico, 7 pm Miami time, via its official page andThe final of Miss Universe can be seen this Saturday, November 16 through Miss Universe on YouTubefrom the 6:30 pm from central Mexico5:30 pm (Miami).