Miss Universe Guatemala Visits Fashion Week

Virginia Arqueta is Miss Universe Guatemala 2017 and she is having a very exciting year. The 24-year-old, currently studying at the University Rafael Landivar in Guatemala, in External Relations, was just in Los Angeles where she walked for designer Willfredo Geraldo at the Arts Hearts Fashion event as part of Fashion Week in Los Angeles.

Virginia grew up in a small town of Jutiapa in Guatemala, and never imagined that beauty pageants or a modeling career might be in her future. She was always focused on her schooling until her friends suggested she try out for a local beauty pageant. She couldn’t think of a reason not to. “I never imagined I’d win the beauty pageant I entered, let alone go all the way to Miss Universe! The last two years have been a thrilling and humbling experience,” she says.

After her first local win in her home town, she decided to get serious about entering the Miss Universe Pageant in Guatemala City. But she realized she would be competing against girls who had far more experience than she had. Girls who had been doing pageants like these for years. Having traveled to South America, Miami Beach and Europe, Virginia knew that Venezuela had the best schools for learning the techniques of beauty, etiquette, poise, presentation the life-blood of beauty pageants. “I took classes in modeling, bearing and movement. They teach you the best ways to use the techniques of elegance, grace, self-assurance and confidence. Even if you don’t feel it, you have to project it! It was so helpful for me to have that training. I figured, if I was going to enter, I was going there with the intention to win and I wanted to be as prepared as possible.”

Her training paid off, and as she competed in Miss Universe Guatemala in August, 2016 against 14 other dazzling contestants, she won. Her crown has brought her new attention which she hopes to use as an ambassador of good will for her country.

“I want to be an example for the good values of my country and demonstrate to the world that Guatemala is a progressive and developing nation. I also hope to raise money for a Foundation so other girls with limited resources can learn the techniques I did and have careers in modeling or beauty that may give them access to some of the opportunities I have had.”

Virginia says she plans on finishing her studies at the University inbetween her fashion events. She will next be walking on the runway for the Rocky Rocks Fashion Event, by the designer Rocky Gathercole, one of the top avante garde fashion designers in the world, in Austin, Texas in June.

When she finishes University, Virginia says she plans to study abroad in Paris to get her Master’s Degree. External Studies certainly is right major for this intelligent young woman to take, as her career as Miss Universe Guatemala takes her across the globe.