Aila Merenciano and Chloe D'Hebroodt, new queens of the Festes Majors Patronals de Benidorm 2022

Benidorm Palace night room hosted this Saturday one of the most important and emotional acts of the city's festive scene: the election and coronation of the queens of its Major Patron Saint Festivities. The young Aila Merenciano Gutiérrez and the girl Chloe D'Hebroodt Martínez are, since yesterday, the highest representatives of the Festes Majors Patronals in Benidorm. The act brought together 800 people, the capacity allowed due to the current health situation.
The mayor Toni Pérez and the councilor for Fiestas Jesús Carrobles, in addition to the national deputy Agustín Almodóbar, the provincial deputy José Ramón González de Zárate, members of the municipal corporation, Mariners de la Mare de Deu del Sofratge , Costalers de Sant Jaume, ACR La Barqueta, the honorary flag bearer, representatives of the Associació de Penyes, as well as representatives of associations and civic entities of the city.
The ceremony began with the arrival of the banner carried by the president of the Comissió de Festes Majors Patronals, José Vicente Fuster, and then with the arrival of the 2021 flag bearer, Vicente Fuster, with the presentation of Rafael Urbano and Isabel Galiana, organizers of the act.
Next, the queens and ladies of 2020-21 took the stage. The child queen Sofía Fuster did it accompanied by her father while Paula Berenguer with her brother.
With the presence of the notary Luis María Sánchez Bernal, the draw was then proceeded to choose the two queens of 2022. It was the outgoing child queen who chose the Chole D'Hebroodt ball, which will have a Court of seven child ladies, while the The eldest queen chose the ball with the name of Aila Marenciano, which will have a Court of Honor made up of 19 ladies.
After the election, a show of magic, mentalism and shadow games by David Climent and Mag Malastruc gave way to the Coronation of the two new queens, which began with the imposition on the president of the Commission, José Vicente Fuster, of the Badge of Honor by the Councilor for Fiestas, Jesús Carrobles.
The two outgoing queens then officially bid their farewells with two highly emotional speeches, interrupted by applause on numerous occasions. Sofía Fuster said that her reign had been a “dream come true” and stressed that “it has not been easy” to get the parties going because of the pandemic. She thanked "all those who have helped us and collaborated", with special mention to the mayor, the Councilor for Fiestas and the City Council "who have always treated us with a smile". “Hopefully they will go back to being a normal Festes Majors Patronals” she added. He assured Paula Berenguer that “I will never forget you and no one will take away the moments we have spent together, even if they have been hard. You have taken care of me like your little sister and I thank you.”
She also addressed the new queens, to whom she advised that "don't stop enjoying yourself for a moment because the position you assume is the most important of the Festes and a source of pride". She also had words of gratitude for her Court of Honor and for the Mare de Dèu del Sofratge and Sant Jaume "for their help and for having been elected queen".
At that moment, the transfer of powers took place with the imposition of the accrediting sash to the new queen, Chole D'Hebroodt, the cape with him, the coat of arms of Benidorm and finally the crown. A moment that ended with the imposition of the Comissiò Badge on the new queen and the sashes on the ladies of her Court of Honour.
Then it was Paula Berenguer, queen of 2021, who said goodbye thanking the "details" of the mayor and also the Councilor for Fiestas "for having believed in the most difficult times. She had words of thanks for the association of supporters clubs, her family and special mentions to relevant people during her reign. She also stressed that in these times "we have had to learn to smile with our eyes" because of the masks and she chose the most special moment "with the Offering to the Mare de Dèu, which made me tremble". She also advised her successor to "enjoy every moment" and to take care of her Court "as they will take care of you." Finally, she said goodbye to the child queen Sofía Fuster of whom she said "I was amazed to see your evolution in this time."
The new queen, Aila Merenciano, then received the accrediting sash, the cape and her crown from the hands of the outgoing queen and later the Badge of Honor of the Festivities Commission was imposed on her, moments before the Ladies of Honor received their sash.
After this act, the maintainer of the Festes of 2022 was presented, who will be María del Carmen Such Ronda, the first Children's Queen of the Festes in 1972. She told the new queens that they have a unique year ahead of them and urged them to "take advantage of it and enjoy it because in your bouquets is the devotion, faith and trust that we have in our patrons".
Toni Pérez, mayor of Benidorm, then imposed the city's Badge of Honor on the maintainer and the president of the Commission did the same with the mayor, on whom he imposed the entity's badge. Pérez asked for "great applause" for the outgoing queens and courts "that synthesizes the great height at which you have been" and ended by asking the patrons "peace, joy and above all health". "Vixca la Mare de Dèu, Vixca Sant Jaume and Vixca Benidorm" concluded the mayor.
The event ended with the surrender of homage to the new queens by all the festive and civic associations and entities present at the event, before the interpretation of the hymns of Benidorm and the Valencian Community. Outside, a large fireworks display was launched to culminate the Election and Coronation of the Queens of the Festes Majors Patronals in 2022.