University alumna competing for title of Miss Nicaragua

By: Esra Erdogan / Photo Editor

With the date of the Miss Nicaragua 2011 pageant looming, 26-year-old FIU alumnus Priscilla Suzetie Ferrufino Mendoza is closer than ever to her hope of wearing the crown.

The native-born Nicaraguan has only competed once before in the Miss Hispanidad pageant in Miami in 2004 where she made it to the top five.

Unhappy with the pageant system in the United States, Ferrufino moved to back to her native country last December in the hopes of entering the Miss Nicaragua pageant in 2011.

Her decision to move back to the Central American country came from her belief that U.S. pageants were based more on popularity and less on talent.

Ferrufino graduated from FIU in 2007 with degrees in anthropology and sociology.  It took several years for her to work and raise the money she needed to leave her family in Miami to enter the Nicaragua pageant.

“It has always been her dream,” said Ferrufino’s sister Melissa Del Toro, who is currently majoring in business administration and entrepreneurship at FIU.

Included in the final 14 girls chosen, Ferrufino has made it past the initial elimination for the televised pageant on Feb. 26.

If she makes it to the final five, Ferrufino will be asked questions about her goals as the potential Miss Nicaragua.

She has expressed that her greatest goal as the potential winner of Miss Nicaragua would be to act on her platform to responsibly develop tourism in her home country.

“A lot of my platform is based on my final paper that I had to write in order to graduate, which was to find a business to eliminate poverty in my country. I based all of my anthropological research based on that question,” said Ferrufino.

The current problems that Nicaragua faces truly concern Ferrufino.

Most of the Nicaraguan population live on less than a dollar a day, and one of the ways to bring income to the lower classes would be to increase tourism.

Ferrufino credits Quinta Esperanza Verde, a coffee farm that has been recognized internationally for its achievements, as a source of inspiration.

Quinta Esperanza Verde, which is located in San Ramon, Matagalpa in Nicaragua is an organic coffee farm that offers eco-tours and gives back 20 percent of their profits to the community.

When looking for ways to develop tourism, Ferrufino believes this farm is a healthy model for the rest of the nation.

“It’s really amazing and it’s something the nation can benefit from. One of the best things we have is our environment; volcanoes, mountains and beaches.”

If she wins the crown, the title would grant Ferrufino the access to politicians and businesses that could further her goal.

“What I love is being able to do something I love for my country and my people. I want to make a difference and set a good example for younger generations,” said Ferrufino.

The winner of Miss Nicaragua will be eligible to go on and compete in the Miss Universe pageant.

“We’ve never had a Miss Nicaragua be crowned Miss Universe. The furthest was in 2007 when the girl made it to the top ten. We don’t know what it is to be Miss Universe because we’ve never been exposed, just participated. [If I won Miss Universe] I could attract the attention of a bigger market, which could attract more tourists to Nicaragua and leave [the nation] in a good position,” said Ferrufino.

Currently staying with family in Nicaragua’s capital, Managua, Ferrufino has support around the globe from her family members.

Her mother, father and sister, Del Toro, live in Miami, while other family members live in California and Canada.

“Everyone is very supporting and everyone wants her to win. We may not be there with her, but we’re supporting her. The only hard part is missing her,” said Del Toro.

Ferrufino has also begun to attract the support of the Nicaraguan public.

The local Nicaraguan press in Managua has predicted that she will make it to the top five.

Because she is close to the 27-year-old age cut off for the competition, this is Ferrufino’s last chance to win the crown.

“I’m almost aged out at this point and this is my last attempt. If all goes well I will be doing this for a year. If not, this is my last pageant,” said Ferrufino.

Ferrufino hopes that those who choose to follow in her footsteps and participate in pageants look past stereotypes often associated with them.

“The misconception is that women in beauty pageants are pretty but not to be taken seriously because no one considers them to be intelligent. Women who want to do this should prepare themselves. It goes far beyond the glamour; it becomes your responsibility and your life.”

Ferrufino’s best advice to future pageant competitors is to complete their education, have life experience and be self-assured.

“That’s when you know you’re ready to be here for other people.”