Carnival Queen in 1999, Laura Pérez Castro |
Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1999 was Laura Pérez Castro in a costume, "A los pies de Yalpur" (At the foot of Jaipur) designed by Vicente Vargas, representing Azul Televisión.
In 1999, the court was made up as follows:
- 1st Maid of Honour: María Sonia Francisco Padilla, with a costume entitled "Centroamericana" (Central American), representing Centro Comercial Alcampo - La Laguna and designed by Leo Martínez.
- 2nd Maid of Honour: Yaiza Díaz Sánchez, with "El poder de lo inverso" (The power of the reverse), representing Centro Comercial del Mueble and designed by Miguel Ángel Castilla Abreu.
- 3rd Maid of Honour: Ingry Tavío Mejías, with a costume entitled "Tiffanys", representing Almacenes El Kilo and designed by Leovid Canarias.
- 4th Maid of Honour: Rebeca Saray Paniagua Navarro, with a costume entitled "¡Que las baile Rita la cantaora!" (Let Rita the singer dance them!), representing Academia de Modas Mayjo (Mayjo Fashion Academy) and designed by Expedita Hernández.
The theme in 1999 was 'Comic World': and the stage returned to the Plaza de España, with a set filled with superheroes. To preside over the stage of that year, a patriotic superhero for the island of Tenerife was created, who was baptized as "Super Chicha" short for "Super Chicharrero" (chicharrero being the popular name of the inhabitants of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife). The character was created by Guillermo Afonso and Captain America served as inspiration.
The giant statue of Super Chicha was located in the centre of the stage, next to it was a bust of Lara Croft along with more superheroes from the world of comics. A wall that mimicked a comic page served as a backdrop and Super Chicha, with a raised fist and the shield in the other hand, seemed to be coming out of it.
After the carnival, the sculpture was exhibited in the La Salud neighbourhood market in Santa Cruz until 2012, when the City Council was forced to dismantle the sculpture due to its deterioration, causing a great controversy in the city and the island, especially among the carnival groups. It is expected (hoped?) that in the future a copy of the original statue can be made and placed outside the Casa del Carnaval de Santa Cruz, the museum dedicated to this emblematic festival.
Super Chicha is still considered an allegorical and recurring character of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival. In 2017, the costume used by the members of the Los Chinchosos murga was precisely Super Chicha. Super Chicha wears a blue mask with white wings, blue chest and white gloves, the rest of the costume is blue, with white boots and carries a shield in the colors and shape of the Tenerife flag.