María del Hierro Ayala has been chosen ‘Dulcinea 2022’ by the Commission for Celebrations and Popular Traditions of the Ciudad Real City Council. Born in 1994, she is dedicated to teaching and has been president of the ‘A thousand and one smiles’ Youth Association, as well as the 2018 Youth Award. María del Hierro, who takes over from Gema María García del Castillo, was already a lady with anteriority.
The jury has taken into account the human, social and cultural values of the applicants, who were given a personal interview, also assessing the knowledge of the traditions, the history of the city or their participation in the popular demonstrations of Ciudad Real . Among the requirements to be elected, it was necessary to be registered in the city, to have turned 18 years old when the bases of the call were published and not to have been ‘Dulcinea’ in previous years.
The chosen one has been “very happy and surprised”, because all her companions “were also worth a lot, and very proud to be able to wear the name of Ciudad Real”. “Being Dulcinea is a new experience and it’s like she’s blank,” she adds. She volunteered for many years of the group ‘Take my time’, among her dreams is “to be able to instill traditions in boys and girls so that they know how the city develops”.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Ciudad Real, Eva María Masías, has conveyed congratulations to the winner, who “will represent the tradition, customs and values of the women of our city.” Masías has revealed that in 2016 she introduced herself to ‘Dulcinea’ and believes that it is a representation “that is not about age, but about wanting a lot, wanting to be with and for everything with Ciudad Real”.
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