Ileana Márquez, a 27-year-old mother and teacher, has marked a before and after in the history of the Miss Venezuela pageant. Representing the state of Amazonas, Márquez not only won the crown of Miss Venezuela 2023 last Thursday, December 7, but also became the first mother to achieve this title, an important novelty in a pageant known for its rigorous criteria. of selection.
Trained as a senior technician in Initial Education, Márquez not only stands out for her beauty, but also for her passion for teaching. During the contest, she expressed her love for teaching, both in preschool and modeling, highlighting her desire to “inspire, transform realities and change the world.” This commitment of hers to education and her role as a young mother have been instrumental in her path to the crown.
Born and raised in Valencia, in the state of Carabobo, Márquez maintains a close bond with her birthplace, describing it as her home and the source of her fondest memories. Despite the difficulties of being a mother at a young age, she moved forward and found in her daughter Guadalupe her motivation to grow as a person and as a professional. Márquez, in addition to her achievements in beauty pageants, aspires to continue her training in Early Childhood Education.
Márquez has ambitious plans as Miss Venezuela. She is committed to supporting children and adolescents at risk, a cause very close to her as an educator. She also intends to promote Venezuela’s artistic manifestations internationally, taking advantage of her platform as a beauty queen.
Her triumph in Miss Venezuela 2023 is not only personal, but also an event for the pageant. This year, for the first time, the contest opened its doors to mothers and women of different marital statuses, eliminating barriers that previously limited participation. Additionally, it was announced that the 28-year-old age limit will be lifted next year, allowing more women to compete.
Therefore, Ileana Márquez’s achievement at Miss Venezuela 2023 symbolizes a significant change in the standards and expectations of the pageant, celebrating not only physical beauty, but also strength, determination and commitment to education and motherhood. Her story is an inspiration to many women, as she shows that dreams can be achieved despite society’s challenges and expectations.
