Rocío Romero and Rocío Benavente, crowned as the new queens of Casa de Andalucía in Benidorm

Rocío Romero Martínez and Rocío Benavente Romero have been the new queens of  Casa de Andalucía in Benidorm since last night. Both mother and daughter received their sashes and crowns yesterday as the highest representatives of Andalusians in the city at a ceremony held at the Óscar Esplá amphitheatre in Parc de l'Aigüera, hosted by the city's mayor, Toni Pérez.

He was joined by the Councillor for Fiestas, Mariló Cebreros; a representative of the Cultural Federation of Andalusia in the South of the Valencian Community (FECUAS); and numerous members of the municipal council, Leonor Jiménez, president of the Casa de Andalucía; the incoming and outgoing queens; and the rest of the organisation's members at this emotional evening, which was also attended by the queens of the Festes Majors Patronals, Paula Pascual Sánchez and Aitana Pérez Guitiérrez, and their ladies-in-waiting. and the presidents of the Commission and the Association of Peyes Verge del Sofratge, Susana Martínez and Jonathan López de las Huertas.

The event began with sevillana dances by members of this organisation and with the entrance on stage of the 2025 Casa de Andalucía queens, Beatriz Martínez and Kenia Moreno, who also performed a sevillana dance for all attendees. They then gave two moving farewell speeches, in which they reviewed everything they had experienced throughout the year and thanked numerous organisations and individuals for their support, before welcoming the rest of the women, young women, and girls representing Casa de Andalucía on stage. Among them were the oldest and youngest "Guapa" and the Rociera of Honour.

The evening's climax then arrived when the two Rocíos who will represent the entity in 2026 took the stage, accompanied by two other family members: their father, in the case of Rocío Benavente, the child queen; and their son, in the case of Rocío Romero, the senior queen. Both received the sashes and crowns from their predecessors before taking their thrones.
Mayor Toni Pérez, chosen by the Casa de Andalucía as the event's host, praised the role of the nearly 7,000 Andalusians, "born here or there," who currently reside in the city and their contribution to Benidorm, "men and women who went out to make other places in Spain great and who, freely heeding their national anthem, were people of light who gave human souls to others... And if Andalusia gave us and gives us its roots, Benidorm reciprocated and reciprocates by offering us the wings to reach the future, fulfil ourselves, and form a life and family."

The mayor said he was proud of his appointment by FECUAS as "Andalusian of the Year" in 2023. He also highlighted the union of cultures that is Benidorm: "Benidorm is the sum of everyone's efforts; of so many who came here to join their perseverance with the few of us who are from here, sharing, with many more, the streets, the work, the effort, the celebrations, and the dreams. Benidorm is the sum of all."

Toni Pérez also offered a few words of congratulations to the 2026 queens of the Casa de Andalucía: "Is there a name that evokes Andalusia more than Rocío's? Just say it, and it already sounds like nature, devotion, and celebration." The mayor wished them both "a very happy reign and that it brings you a unique and memorable experience," before expressing his confidence that "with you two, the Casa de Andalucía in Benidorm, Andalusia itself, will be magnificently represented."

Following the mayor's remarks, the president of the Casa de Andalucía in Benidorm, Leonor Jiménez, also offered words of happiness and gratitude to everyone present, especially to the outgoing queens, Kenia and Beatriz, and to the incoming queens, Rocío Benavente and Rocío Romero.

The event concluded with the performance of the anthems of the Valencian Community and Andalusia.