Miss International 2011, Maria Fernanda Cornejo of Ecuador, arrived to her country to be welcomed by her proud family and a group of fans, in order to celebrate the win of the first Grand Slam beauty title for her country.
After departing the airport, “Mafer” took part in a motorcar parade in the streets of Guayaquil, until she arrived to Gama TV station where she participated in a press conference.
Maria Fernanda told Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio that she did not realize she had won, until her fellow contestants told her.
“I couldn’t hear my name. The pageant was in mandarin, which is a very different language. I was left on stage with Miss Panama and Miss Puerto Rico. They were the ones who told me “It’s you, it’s you!! I was in complete shock”.
22-year old Maria Fernanda won 2 million yuan (about USD 21,000) and a replica of the crown.
After her victory, she travelled to Japan to attend the Miss International Japan 2012 finals. She will also work with the Unicef, and will return to both China and Japan to help with fundraisers to benefit the victims of the earthquake that hit Sendai earlier this year.
During the press conference, Maria Fernanda was congratulated by Maria del Carmen Aguayo, president of the Miss Ecuador Organization.
Ecuador is on a roll. In 2011 alone, they won the titles of Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss America Latina and Miss Continente Americano. A powerhouse on the rise? Courtesy of El Comercio and Diario Hoy
Proud to be ecuadorian and proud of Mafer, Olga and Claudia !!!!! big kisses and hugs from Germany !!!!
I hope Ecuador places next year at Miss World & Miss Universe.
congrats ecuador…,,,, 2 wins for your country…. hugs from philippines
Ha! I didn’t know Miss Panama and Miss Puerto Rico understood Mandarin! I would love to see the announcement and crowing! With Ecuador’s success, perhaps more women will be inspired to join the pageant and they will bag the Miss Universe and Miss World titles as well.
good luck miss ecuador … the new power house of beauty queen … i hope honduras, nicaragua, el salvador, uruguay can stunning after this …
ecuadow- powerhouse of beauty??? this ‘beauty’ queen is certainly no beauty! I am sure there are far prettier girls than her in ecuador
I think the Miss Universe Pageant is fixed. Someone from Earth wins it every time.
Hahaha, Richard! That was one of the funniest comments I’ve read in a long time. Thanks.
She looks like a playmate… i dont like her… she is cute but not a real wonderful Miss International… I dont knot what happened with this contest….