Cuenca ends support for city beauty pageant

Mayor Pedro Palacios

Joining other cities in Ecuador, Cuenca Mayor Pedro Palacios announced Monday that the city will no longer fund the Queen of Cuenca beauty pageant. “We spend $23,000 to $24,000 a year on the event and I’m sure we can find a more appropriate use for those funds,” he said.

Cuenca joins Quito, Loja, Latacunga and Otavalo in ending support for beauty pageants while several other cities are also reconsidering their position.

Palacios said he welcomes private support for the pageant and said he plans to talk to several companies that have expressed an interest in providing funding. “It is possible the event will continue but it will not be supported by the tax payers.”