Paula Montes, Miss Peru World 2021: “My dream was to be a Victoria’s Secret angel” | INTERVIEW

With only 25 years old, Paula Montes She has managed to fulfill the dreams she had since she was a child: to succeed on the catwalk and have the opportunity to participate in a beauty pageant. She is the new Miss Peru World 2021 and will represent our country in the Miss World that will be held in Puerto Rico at the end of this year where she will have to pass four tests, for which she has been preparing.

In May, while checking his Instagram account, he saw the call for the contest and decided to submit his photo. They called her the next day and she didn’t stop until she got the crown. In an interview with Trade, Paula Montes gave more details about the support she has received from her family and how her training has been for the Miss World tests. Get to know them here.

-Paula, what motivated you to enter the world of modeling?

From a very young age, the world of fashion, magazines, clothes caught my attention. I started watching the Victoria’s Secret shows. So, like every teenage girl who has dreams, mine was to be a Victoria’s Secret Angel. I was very attracted to the ´fashion shows´ and it was the starting point to decide to start my modeling career.

– What were the comments you received from your family when you communicated your desire to be a model?

My parents and my family are my best friends. They have always supported my brothers and me in all our dreams. That is something I really appreciate. They are my great support. When I commented that it caught my attention, they completely agreed. They were more than happy because since I was little, they told me that I was going to be a model. They accepted my decision, and my mother even enrolled me in a modeling school in Arequipa when I was 12 or 13 years old. It was there when I started professionally.

-You decided to continue your career as a model in New York, how did you get the opportunity to go to the United States?

Going to model abroad was always a dream since I started modeling. Here in Lima I was able to participate in the International Model Contest ´Elite Model Look´, which is the largest worldwide. I participated and was a finalist. I did not win, but that was not an impediment to go out on my own and go knocking on doors abroad. I think that not winning the contest motivated me, and made me gain a lot of strength to build up my courage, spend all my savings and buy a ticket to New York to fulfill my dreams.

-When did you decide to apply for Miss Peru World 2021?

I moved to the United States 4 years ago. Last year was complicated for us by the pandemic and I wanted to come visit my family for a couple of months, but then I decided to leave my ticket open. I worked here as a model and I had the opportunity to see the casting of Miss World Peru 2021 on Instagram, it caught my attention and I said ‘why not?’. It was an idea that had been raised to me years ago, but it had remained in the air. I sent my photos to the casting and I got a good response. They interviewed me the next day and I entered the contest representing the Lima region.

– How did you prepare for all the stages that Miss Peru World entails?

I entered in May, I was one of the last candidates to enter the contest because there were candidates who had entered months ago. It was something totally new to me. I knew the final was in August, I had little time to prepare, but I was very motivated and the preparation consisted of public speaking classes, catwalk, makeup classes and learning this whole world of queens which was completely new to me.

-What are the differences that you identified between the world of modeling and that of misses?

The main difference between the two is that the model is in charge of selling the clothes, the product, she as a person goes into the background. Instead, the miss sells herself to her as a person. She is the one who plays the role, she is not just a pretty face; rather, he is a complete character. Entering the world of misses and giving my best has led me to get to know myself a little more, to overcome my fears, to get out of my comfort zone because I was not used to speaking in public or to the catwalk of moving my hips and smile. These little things have meant challenges and I am proud of the evolution I have had over the months.

-Paula, how was the interaction you had with the other candidates for the crown? Any anecdote that you remember?

The interaction in the first months was virtual. We got to know each other face to face a month and a half before the final. I had a wonderful group of candidates. Girls from different parts of Peru with many dreams, very humble and good. (…) We had a ride on a bus and it was wonderful. They put on karaoke with the RBD songs and all the girls sang, we had fun, we enjoyed a wonderful view of the beach circuit at sunset. The truth is I have very nice memories with them and I learned a lot from each one.

-Did you also share with Tito Paz, the organizer of Miss Peru World?

We have become a team. We have constant communication every day, just like with Mónica Ferreira, who is her right hand and my catwalk coach. Tito, Monica and I have formed the dynamic trio and we have a WhatsApp group where we are talking every day. Any questions or queries I have the confidence to ask (…) Tito is very good, I am very grateful for everything he has given me, for all the trust, for his friendship.

-We saw on Instagram that you met with Maju Mantilla, Miss World 2004, what did he tell you? Did he give you any advice to stand out in the contest?

We had dinner at Maju’s house last Monday. We were in coordination to make a meeting, although the agendas did not coincide. But finally we found a space and it was wonderful to share with Miss World 2004. She gave me very good advice from queen to queen and told me about her experience. He gave me tips and little things that I am going to put into practice. I’m going to do my best.

-Paula, what did you feel when you were crowned the new Miss Peru World? What crossed your mind in that emotional moment?

I was in shock. He didn’t know whether to walk or say hello. The flowers and the crown came. I did not know what to say. Monica, who was part of the jury, was behind the tables, saw my face a little misplaced and told me to say hello. I also heard the voice of my dad who was there with my aunt. Many mixed emotions at that time. One of the most beautiful memories of my life: the night of the coronation.

-What is the main message you want to leave as Miss Peru World?

The first would be that you believe in yourself. Everything starts with yourself. I believe that if you set out to fulfill your dreams, you are going to do it. The ability that you have to excel is important, to overcome all the obstacles that life puts on you. The road is not easy. I say that the more difficult the path, the greater the triumph.

-Paula, after your coronation, how come you are preparing for the tests that you must pass at Miss World?

There are four tests: topmodel, sporty, talent, and purposeful beauty. I think that I could highlight the first two. Modeling is something that I have practically been doing all my life and in sports I consider myself a person who has a good physique, I train every day. In addition, for the purposeful beauty test I have been working hand in hand with the NGO AMA to manage my project on functional parks in Lima that everyone in the contest will see. Regarding the talent test, mine is in the kitchen, I love it, I do it every day and I am very creative. Even in the final of Miss Peru World I made a ceviche in one minute that was delicious; But this time in Puerto Rico, I will do something different, it will be a surprise. I am preparing it with a lot of love.

Paula Montes continues to strive to raise the name of Peru in Miss World 2021 that will take place in Puerto Rico. “I am happy. I’m going to do my best, I really have high expectations, I’m very excited and I know it will be a wonderful experience”, He concluded.