{"id":3624,"date":"2024-04-01T16:59:51","date_gmt":"2024-04-01T21:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/?p=3624"},"modified":"2024-04-03T10:20:49","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T15:20:49","slug":"special-interview-introducing-serina-maldonado-reigning-as-cuencas-queen-on-its-100-year-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/01\/special-interview-introducing-serina-maldonado-reigning-as-cuencas-queen-on-its-100-year-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"SPECIAL INTERVIEW &#8211; Introducing Serina Maldonado: Reigning as Cuenca&#8217;s Queen on Its 100-Year Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3624\" class=\"elementor elementor-3624\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da0597c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"da0597c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58d23ad elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"58d23ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-Cuenca-INTERVIEW.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3630\" alt=\"Reina de Cuenca INTERVIEW\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-Cuenca-INTERVIEW.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-Cuenca-INTERVIEW-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-Cuenca-INTERVIEW-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-Cuenca-INTERVIEW-768x346.jpg 768w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-Cuenca-INTERVIEW-1536x691.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81da6c3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"81da6c3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-967d039 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"967d039\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5aa4621 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5aa4621\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><em>Cuenca Expats Magazine, Issue 45<\/em><\/p><p><em>Photo: Courtesy of Reina de Cuenca Foundation<\/em><\/p><p>We had the privilege of sitting down with Serina Maldonado, the newly crowned Queen of Cuenca, and were immediately struck by her poise and grace, remarkable qualities for an 18-year-old woman. Born in Miami, Serina is the first Miss Cuenca to hail from outside the country, the youngest of three siblings. Despite this, she meets the pageant&#8217;s residency requirements, having lived in the country for 15 years.<\/p><p>An accomplished athlete, Serina dedicated nine years to competitive swimming, earning herself a national championship title and recent recognition in the Pacific Cup.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60363f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"60363f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1706\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3632\" alt=\"Reina de cuenca\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-scaled.jpg 1706w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-1365x2048.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1706px) 100vw, 1706px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8907173 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8907173\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6bf4f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e6bf4f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-labor-social.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3631\" alt=\"Reina de cuenca labor social\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-labor-social.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-labor-social-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-labor-social-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-labor-social-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Reina-de-cuenca-labor-social-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9b364a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c9b364a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Her passion for volunteer work led her to participate in the pageant, seeing it as an avenue to amplify her social impact. As Queen, her primary focus is on aiding families in need, particularly those with disabilities, in addition to fulfilling the ceremonial duties synonymous with representing Cuenca.<\/p><p>Upon completing her reign, Serina plans to further her education with advanced studies in English, with aspirations for a master&#8217;s degree in either aerospace or civil engineering. Being crowned during the 100th anniversary of the pageant holds special significance for Serina, marking a milestone in her journey as Cuenca&#8217;s reigning queen.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2015e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e2015e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3508\" height=\"4962\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/logo-de-la-fundacion-reinas-de-cuenca.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3629\" alt=\"logo de la fundacion reinas de cuenca\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/logo-de-la-fundacion-reinas-de-cuenca.png 3508w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/logo-de-la-fundacion-reinas-de-cuenca-212x300.png 212w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/logo-de-la-fundacion-reinas-de-cuenca-724x1024.png 724w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/logo-de-la-fundacion-reinas-de-cuenca-768x1086.png 768w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/logo-de-la-fundacion-reinas-de-cuenca-1086x1536.png 1086w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/logo-de-la-fundacion-reinas-de-cuenca-1448x2048.png 1448w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3508px) 100vw, 3508px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cuenca Expats Magazine, Issue 45 Photo: Courtesy of Reina de Cuenca Foundation We had the privilege of sitting down with Serina Maldonado, the newly crowned Queen of Cuenca, and were immediately struck by her poise and grace, remarkable qualities for an 18-year-old woman. Born in Miami, Serina is the first Miss Cuenca to hail from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,317,251],"tags":[278,279,280,250,281,282],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3624"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3624"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3696,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3624\/revisions\/3696"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}