The Miss Universe competition features an array of eager contestants who yearn to take the crown back to their native country. A win means not just a win for the contestant, but a chance to represent their home country with pride and dignity.
Alexia Viruez, a Miss Universe 2013 contestant, wants to snag the Miss Universe title to bring attention and notice to her home country of Bolivia.
Viruez, 19, hails from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, according to Miss Universe.com. Viruez was crowned Miss Bolivia 2012, but competed in many beauty pageants prior to winning the Miss Bolivia title. Alexia was first runner-up in Reina Hispanoamericana 2012, and participated in Miss Global Teen 2010, where she won Teen Face of the Year award. She won many other awards when she was crowned Miss Bolivia 2012, including Crest Best Smile, Miss Elegance and Miss Photogenic L'aranja Terracor.
Viruez currently studies psychology at UDABOL (Universidad de Aquino Bolivia), but with striking features and a lengthy 5'10 frame, she strives to pursue a professional modeling career. At just 9-years-old, Viruez was awarded a modeling scholarship, which allowed her jump start her modeling career. Now, she desires to walk on the most famous catwalks in the world. Because of her modeling and beauty pageant status, the only shoes she owns are tennis shoes and high heels.
Aside from modeling, she is passionate about music, art and theater. Alexia also loves her country's colorful food. Her favorite native dish is majadito, an orange-flavored rice cooked with dried meat and served with eggs and sweet fried plantains.
Alexia is passionate about giving back to the people of Bolivia. She even helped rescuers when the Malaga office in Santa Cruz collapsed in 2011.
"I have given all of my effort and sacrificed so much to get where I am today, and strive to go even further to win the Miss Universe Competition, not only for myself but for my country," Viruez said.
Viruez will compete in the Miss Universe pageant on November 9 at 9 p.m. at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia.
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