City Hall Seeks Santa Cruz Queen; Galarza Family Out of Organization

The Municipal Secretariat of Culture and Tourism in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, has announced a significant shift in its tradition for selecting the city's queen. For the 2026 festivities, the role will be filled through an open public call, a departure from the long-standing method previously managed by the late stylist Pippo Galarza. This decision effectively ends the Galarza family's 42-year involvement in organizing the queen's selection and the accompanying Serenata a Santa Cruz.

Pippo Galarza, a renowned stylist, established the Serenata a Santa Cruz in 1983 as a grand cultural celebration. Over the decades, the event evolved into a major artistic showcase and a highly anticipated spectacle for the city's residents. The Serenata stage has seen 34 queens crowned, many of whom went on to become public figures and cultural ambassadors. Julio Alberto Abraham served as the master of ceremonies for 40 years, becoming a familiar face at the event.

The new selection process requires candidates to be native Cruceñas between 18 and 28 years old, single, charismatic, of impeccable conduct, and at least 1.68 meters tall. Unlike in previous years when Galarza handled contestants' personal styling, the new guidelines state that the chosen young women must manage their own makeup, hair, and attire. The application deadline is August 28, with required documents including identification, a full-body photograph, and a presentation video. The exact method of final selection and whether a jury will be involved remain unspecified.