Miss Costa Rica 2017 Designated

Correa (left) with Carolina Rodriguez, the eventual winner of Miss Costa Rica 2016

SAN JOSE, Jun 13 -- Televisora de Costa Rica, S.A. (Teletica), owner of the Miss Costa Rica brand and franchise holders to Miss Universe, announced over a press release that Elena Correa Usuga, the 1st runner-up of Miss Costa Rica 2016, has been designated Miss Costa Rica 2017 and will represent the country in the upcoming Miss Universe competition.

Rene Picado, President of Teletica, informed to the press that the decision had to do with the instability regarding the dates of the international Miss Universe competition, being held in January 2015, then December 2015, then January 2017.  In addition to that, the TV station is preparing for the coverage of important sporting events, as well as the upcoming 2018 Presidential Election.

Elena Correa comes from Heredia and stands 1.82 m in height.  A student of medicine and surgery as well as business administration, she is not a stranger to pageants.  She represented Costa Rica in Miss Tourism Queen of the Year (Malaysia),  Miss Model of the World (China)  and the Miss Supranational 2013 pageant held in Minsk, Belarus.

Her designation caused a controversy in the social networks at a local level, in which some individuals state that Correa's boyfriend influenced the TV station to take this decision. Correa said that her private life in no way influenced the outcome, and said that certain people have been criticizing her long before she even planned on competing.

Carolina Rodriguez added that Correa is indeed qualified to wear the Miss Costa Rica crown.  And she was indeed, the 1st runner-up last year which entitles her to wear the title in case the pageant was postponed.

A crowning ceremony will take place in August where Rodriguez will pass on the title.