Doménica Chicaiza Crowned Cholita Cuencana de los Mercados 2026, Sharith Restrepo of El Arenal Takes Second
Doménica Chicaiza Crowned Cholita Cuencana de los Mercados 2026, With El Arenal's Sharith Restrepo Second
Doménica Chicaiza, representing COFELIC, was named Cholita Cuencana de los Mercados, Plazas y Plataformas 2026 during a ceremony held in Cuenca, Ecuador, on Saturday, October 31. The coronation marked the fourth edition of this cultural pageant, which honors the women who work in and represent the city's traditional markets, plazas, and vending platforms. The event took place as part of the broader celebrations marking Cuenca's 206th anniversary of independence.
A Pageant Rooted in Market Vendor Culture
Local organizers and media describe the Cholita Cuencana pageant as more than a conventional beauty contest. Candidates are presented as cultural ambassadors, chosen to represent the identity, heritage, and daily traditions of Cuenca's markets and plazas. Many observers note that the event carries strong civic symbolism, connecting the city's vending communities to its broader cultural identity.
Cuenca's Dirección de Mercados, part of the city's municipal government, played a central role in organizing and promoting the event, according to coverage on the city's official channels. The pageant has become an established fixture tied to the city's independence festivities, reflecting ongoing institutional support for honoring market vendor culture.
The Competition and Runners-Up
Approximately nine to ten candidates took part in this year's edition, each representing a different market, plaza, or vending platform from across Cuenca. Doménica Chicaiza, representing COFELIC, was ultimately selected as the new titleholder.
Sharith Restrepo, representing the Asociación Reina de la Nube from Mercado El Arenal, placed second in the competition. Guadalupe Hidalgo, representing Plaza Rotary, placed third. Together, the top finishers reflect the diversity of market communities that participated in this year's event.
Part of Cuenca's Broader Independence Day Celebrations
The coronation ceremony was one of many events held as part of Cuenca's Fiestas de Independencia, which this year commemorated 206 years since the city's independence. Local agendas reported more than 300 activities scheduled throughout the city during the festival period, including parades, concerts, and civic gatherings.
Among the day's other scheduled events was a parade featuring exalumni war bands, held along Calle Bolívar later that same evening. A recurring theme throughout coverage of the festivities is community pride, with residents and visitors alike engaging in a mix of cultural, musical, and civic programming tied to the anniversary celebrations.
The Cholita Cuencana pageant, now in its fourth year, continues to serve as a highlight of these festivities, drawing attention to the people who sustain Cuenca's markets and plazas throughout the year.