BenidormTotal.com: Lucía, first of all, congratulations! Becoming the Bellesa del Foc is the dream of many young women in the region. Do you remember exactly that moment when you heard your name during the election gala for this year, 2026? What was going through your mind and heart in that instant?
Lucía Hurtado: First, thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my experience with you. The moment of the election takes place in a very intimate, family-like atmosphere among the members of the commission, where the candidates for the position are presented. For me, it was an immense pleasure to hear my name, and of course, I accepted the role with great enthusiasm. I have been lucky to be able to share this year with Valentina, the children’s Bellesa del Foc (Bellesa del Foc Infantil), and our Courts of Honor, along with our President, Pedro, who has been a great support to us.
BenidormTotal.com: It is said that the 2026 Hogueras have been exceptional and will go down in history, with a calendar full of events. Which moment of this year’s celebrations were you looking forward to the most? The thrilling Mascletà that makes your chest vibrate, the moving Floral Offering (Ofrenda de Flores), or perhaps the magical, though always slightly nostalgic, Cremà (the night the monuments are burned)?
Lucía Hurtado: It is difficult to choose just one event; everything has its magic. From the plantá (setting up of the monument), to the recogida (gathering), where you leave home and see the excited faces of your entire commission. Of course, the Ofrenda is emotional every single second, and this year I had the pleasure of the musical accompaniment being provided by the band I have belonged to for 15 years. The mascletà makes you vibrate, as you rightly say, and the cremà is a culmination of feelings—joy, sadness, and strength to start a new year.
BenidormTotal.com: When we see you on the street, you always look spectacular. The traditional attire (ropa de alicantina) is a true work of art: meticulous lace, precious fabrics, and that jewelry! However, we imagine all of this weighs quite a bit. How long does it take you to get completely ready before going out, and what is your favorite element, and which is the most “demanding” of the whole wardrobe?
Lucía Hurtado: The truth is yes, they are true works of art. It takes me about 2 hours to get ready to leave the house with my makeup, hair, and regional dress fully done. The accessory I like the most? I can’t tell you just one; I love the whole outfit. The most demanding, or rather the most delicate, is the traditional Alicantinian bridal mantilla (mantilla de novia alicantina); it is a starched mantilla with seven flutes, which simulate the 7 waves of the sea, hand-embroidered on white tulle.
BenidormTotal.com: The weeks of festivities involve a lot of official visits, smiling at thousands of people, and… getting very little sleep. What is your secret—yours, the other Bellesas del Foc, and the Ladies of Honor—to always looking so radiant and having so much energy until the early hours of the morning? Is it thanks to strong coffee, the Costa Blanca sun, or simply pure adrenaline?
Lucía Hurtado: There is no secret! You are so excited, so eager not to miss anything, that you aren’t even aware of the tiredness; you just think about enjoying every detail.
BenidormTotal.com: Many of the readers of BenidormTotal.com are international tourists in love with our coast who might be planning their first contact with the Hogueras de San Juan. How would you describe this festival to them in three or four words so they have no doubt they must come here in June?
Lucía Hurtado: It is a festival where fire, tradition, and customs are our motto: gunpowder, music, and lots of fun, all right next to our magnificent Poniente beach.
BenidormTotal.com: Lucía, thank you so much for dedicating some time to our readers after these intense weeks of partying. We hope that the magical night of the Cremà, which has now passed, remains forever etched in your memory and that these Hogueras continue to be one of your most beautiful memories!
Lucía Hurtado: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to showcase our roots and our traditions. A big hug!
(Interview conducted for the portal BenidormTotal.com)
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