'Spirit of Peru': Miss Peru USA contestants vying for spot in Miss Peru pageant converge on Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — The next Miss Peru — perhaps even the next Miss Universe — could be in Utah.

The contestants for the Miss Peru USA contest have gathered in Salt Lake City ahead of the pageant finals and have been making the rounds in the area before Thursday's planned finale. They've variously zoomed around town in a stretch limousine, visited the Great Salt Lake, made sushi, posed for glamour photos and more, according to their social media posts on the Miss Peru USA Instagram page.

Last Friday, organizers formally introduced 17 contestants from across the United States at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City, where they discussed their aspirations and dreams. Twenty-one women in all are vying for the Miss Peru USA title — not all could make Friday's introduction — with the winner to take part in the Miss Peru contest in Peru, which feeds into the Miss Universe pageant.

"To be honest, I never thought I could be in Miss Peru because I live outside Peru. But when I saw other Miss Peru USA contestants win Miss Peru, I thought, 'Wow, the dream can become reality,'" said Adela Salas, representing New York. She said she wants "to be an example to all those girls that you can take part in Miss Peru and you can be the hero of your own story."

Celeste Molero, representing North Carolina, discussed her Peruvian roots. She moved to the United States 10 years ago.

"Each step I've taken is meant to fulfill my dreams, and I want to demonstrate that in everything I do. I want to be an example to every immigrant woman who leaves their country and comes here to fight for their dreams," Molero said.

Among the candidates is a Utah representative, Natalia Nolte, who couldn't take part in Friday's introduction. The Miss Peru USA program will be held on Thursday at the Utah Capitol, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets, including fees, start at $33.85.

'The spirit of Peru'

The Miss Peru USA contest, now in its seventh year, is held in different U.S. locations each year. Last year's contest took place in Miami.

"The winner goes on to compete in Miss Universe Peru, representing the 'Peru USA' sash, which highlights the representation of Peruvian women living in the United States," said Paola Maraví, director of the U.S. contest. The United States is the only country to send a participant from outside Peru to the Miss Peru competition.

The U.S. contest has had "strong results," Maraví said, with the U.S. winner garnering overall Miss Peru honors in 2025, 2023 and 2020 and continuing on to the Miss Universe competition. The first runner-ups in 2024 and 2021 also came from the United States. Karla Bacigalupo, Miss Peru and Miss Peru USA in 2025, comes from California.

Rodrigo Andia, a consular official at the Peruvian Consulate in Salt Lake City, was on hand for Friday's introduction, lauding the women, wearing matching short blue dresses and stiletto-heeled shoes.

"With pride, they represent our roots and the spirit of Peru. This event serves not only to strengthen our ties as a community but to also project the best of our country abroad," he said.

Participants in the Miss Peru USA contest may be women born in the United States or Peru, but their parents must be from Peru.

"Many of them weren't born in Peru, but they have Peruvian parents. They identify with Peruvian culture. Obviously, they feel Peruvian because they are, in a certain sense. I'm proud of that," said Maraví, who's originally from Peru.

Indeed, the participants discussed their Peruvian roots with pride.

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"I think that when you leave your country, you leave your land behind, but not your roots. I'm very grateful to the United States for having received me, but I feel 100% Peruvian," said Daniela Colunge, representing Georgia.

Crystal Effio, the Nevada representative, echoed that.

"I don't think you have to pick just one culture. We're all Peruvian Americans," she said.

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