Carla Castro Juggles Master's, Carnival Queen Gala Bid

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen election gala is fast approaching, set for Wednesday, February 11, at the Exhibition Center. There's a lot of excitement in the air, especially for Carla Castro, who is candidate number 5. According to EL DÍA newspaper, Carla is incredibly busy, juggling her carnival preparations with the final stages of her Master's degree in Marketing, which she's completing through remote internships.

Carla is fully dedicated to her candidacy. Her costume designer, Alexis Santana, who has created her fantasy costume for McDonald's and EL DÍA for the third year in a row, says her involvement has been exceptional. Carla hasn't just shown up at the workshop; she's actively helped create the costume, doing detailed handcraft work. She's maintained this high level of commitment ever since the candidates were introduced and the parade order was drawn, which significantly changed her schedule.

A personal touch to Carla's candidacy is her number: 5. This number has been with her since her school days, and it's the one she actually wanted – a coincidence both she and her designer have highlighted. McDonald's and EL DÍA, her sponsors, have also embraced this number as a symbol of their commitment.

Carla Castro's fantasy costume is now in its final stages. This involves taking it apart, adding the finishing touches, and then moving it to the Exhibition Center. Alexis Santana says it's a handcrafted costume, designed with a unique feature that he hopes will leave a memorable mark on Carnival history, regardless of the competition's final result.

Knowing how physically demanding these elaborate fantasy costumes are, Carla has been training hard. She's working with a nutritionist and a physical trainer, and spending time at the gym. Carla says she feels the benefits of this effort and aims to be in top shape for the gala night. This will be her first time on the Carnival's main stage.

McDonald's has renewed its commitment to the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival for another year, in collaboration with EL DÍA. Ramón Fariña, a company representative, stressed that they are continuing this partnership, hoping to repeat past successes, including last year's Queen. McDonald's sees its presence in the Plaza de la Candelaria, a well-known meeting spot during the festivities, as a key part of the Carnival's identity. The company is happy to be part of the celebration again and trusts the jury's decision.

Carla Castro's candidacy, backed by McDonald's and EL DÍA, represents a coordinated effort and promises a memorable evening on February 11.