Athenea Pérez

Athenea Paulinha Pérez Nsué (born 6 May 1996) is a Spanish model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Spain 2023.[1][2][3] The Murciana made history in the contest by becoming the first to send a black woman to represent Spain and now she will represent Spain at Miss Universe 2023 pageant.[4][1]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal family name is Nsué.
Athenea Pérez
Born
Athenea Paulinha Pérez Nsué

(1996-05-06) 6 May 1996
Murcia, Spain
OccupationModel
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Universe Spain 2023
Major
competition(s)		Miss Universe Spain 2023
(Winner)
Miss Universe 2023
(TBA)

Early life

Family background

Pérez was born to a Spanish father and an Equatorial Guinean mother.[5][6] She is of Fang and Bubi descent on her maternal side.[7] At the age of 4, she began practicing rhythmic gymnastics.[8] Regarding her mixed race, Pérez has stated, "as for something public, I think it's the first time I've been attacked because of my skin color. And I think it's not because they didn't want to attack me before, but that the reason is in social media. They are part of our daily lives and before, they simply existed, but they were a complement and not an extension of us. Now it's easier to give your opinion and hide your hand."[9]

Pérez first participated in the Miss World Spain competition when she was 17 but did not advance far in the competition. [10] On 2 July, 2023, after her crowning, she wrote on her Instagram:[10]

“At 17 years old, I introduced myself to Miss World Spain. I didn't rank, but I knew I would achieve something big one day. Ten years later, I was crowned Miss Universe Spain 2023. Life makes it clear that dreams do come true. What is for you will come. That if you put your heart to something, it will come true. “Together we will do something great. Together we will go for the next crown." [11]

As an Equatorial Guinean descent on her mother's side and Muline's on her father's side, Pérez will be the first representative of racialized Spain,[12] which led her to face some racist insults on social networks.[13] "I'm very sad. I was shocked. I've lived here all my life. I was born here. I'm from Churra and half muleña because of my father. It strikes me that this is happening in a society with so many cultures, which for me means wealth. I love my city and I'm proud to be from Murcia," she after being crowned Miss Universe Spain.[12]

Education

Pérez graduated in Marketing and Advertising.[12] Her victory makes her the eleventh representative of Miss Universe Spain in the history of the pageant, which has featured Amparo Muñoz, the only Spanish winner in 1974, and Carla Barber.[12]

Pageantry

Miss Universe 2023

Pérez will represent Spain at the 72nd Miss Universe competition to be held in El Salvador on 18 November 2023.[1]

References
  1. "Quién es la murciana Athenea Pérez, ganadora de Miss Universo España". Semana (in European Spanish). 1 July 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  2. S.L, EDICIONES PLAZA. "La más bella del país es murciana: Athenea Pérez es elegida Miss Universo España". Murciaplaza (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. "Miss España Athenea Pérez revela su competencia en el Miss Universo y cómo enfrenta el racismo - E! Online Latino". E! Online. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  4. MurciaEconomía (9 October 2023). "El folclore y las tradiciones murcianas inundan la Quinta Avenida de Nueva York". MurciaEconomía: El periódico económico regional (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. "Athenea Pérez: "Mi madre me ha educado para que el racismo no me afecte"" (in Spanish).
  6. VERDAD, LA (2 July 2023). "La murciana Athenea Pérez se corona como Miss Universo España". La Verdad (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  7. "Pérez in Matinales TVGE" (in Spanish). TVGE. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  8. "Hablamos con Athenea Pérez, ganadora de Miss Universo España: 'Me ha tocado demostrar que puedo representar a nuestro país con mi color de piel'" (in Spanish).
  9. "Hablamos con Athena Pérez, ganadora de Miss Universo España 2023". HOLA (in Spanish). 22 July 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  10. Tusing, David (3 October 2023). "Miss Universe 2023 contestants who've been crowned so far". The National. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  11. "Hablamos con Athena Pérez, ganadora de Miss Universo España 2023". HOLA (in Spanish). 22 July 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  12. VERDAD, LA (2 July 2023). "La murciana Athenea Pérez se corona como Miss Universo España". La Verdad (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  13. USANews.net. "This is Athenea Pérez, Miss Universe Spain 2023, model and victim of racist attacks". https://www.usanews.net/. Retrieved 16 October 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)


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