Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Saturday 22 February, 2020.—This story, starring Minerva Hernández, has a happy ending. Just as the clock was about to strike midnight on Friday 21 February, the youngster from Fuerteventura received her crown and sceptre and claimed her place on the throne, as no less than the Carnival Queen of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Minerva is a 26-year-old from Fuerteventura, where she lived her entire life until moving to the capital of Gran Canaria to study law, at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. She is currently studying a master’s degree and, during the little spare time she has, pursues one of her main passions: carnival. She explained at a press conference how she met her designer some years ago, when she worked with his team on the costume worn by Cristina López Lorenzo last year. The experience led them to work together again at his studio, where they produced “Vida” - a creation that won over the jury and the public in the vote for their favourite costume.

Minerva’s love for carnival stems from the cradle. Her parents, Esther and Felipe, from Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria respectively, are self-confessed carnival-goers, and Esther took her daughters to participate in a murga on the neighbouring island ever since they were small.

Minerva is not only an inquisitive, hardworking carnival-goer, but she’s also very appreciative: she confessed that the only word that she could think of during the performance was “thank you”. Thank you to all her team, her designer and the public who were captivated by the spectacular design, signed by Josué Quevedo for Multiópticas.

When asked about her most unforgettable moment, there was no question in her mind: her three minutes on stage absorbing the warmth of the public until the very last second.