Onagra Lorenzo Díaz

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Squares, streets & markets · Year: 1919-1966

The urban area of Chamberí-Miramar has a street named after Onagra Lorenzo Díaz (Santa Cruz de Tenerife 1919-1966), the first Queen of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival.

The first contest held in the capital of Tenerife to choose what was then called Miss Carnival took place in the early days of March 1935 at the facilities of the Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero. Six candidates entered the event, whose designs bore the following names: Arco Iris ; Andaluza vista por un francés ; Fantasía ; Cojín de Cuentas ; Antiguo español ; and the winning fantasy: Vampiresa 1933 , worn by Onagra representing the Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero. 

The winning costume was a long pastel-coloured dress spiralling from the waist down, with a large and daring, for the time, back slit; all very much in the fashion of those "crazy" times. Added to this was a small headdress and a violin held in the participant's left hand. The idea of the ensemble and its creation was the work of Onagra's sister, who had been inspired by a film she had recently seen at the Royal Victoria cinema. The cost of the dress amounted to 6,000 pesetas; a fortune at the time.

The young queen had just turned 16 and almost did not participate in the contest, as her father had died a few days earlier; therefore, to avoid the gossip of her neighbours in the El Toscal neighbourhood, she dressed at a friend's house and then moved to the contest venue hiding her outfit under a black cloak.

The prize awarded was an invitation to visit La Laguna, with a reception by the Rondalla of the Orfeón La Paz at the entrance to the city of Los Adelantados, at the Cruz de Piedra. From there, a carriage tour was made through the main streets of La Laguna. 

Onagra Lorenzo was a pioneer and ahead of her time. A cultured woman, she was a competent piano player. She dared to break outdated social moulds, always from a reivindicative and supportive perspective. For a long time she was linked to the carnival festivities and proudly carried until her death, which occurred on 25 January 1966, the distinction of having been chosen the first Miss Carnival .

This contest was held again in 1936, with the title going to the young Ana de la Torre del Pino, with the fantasy Ana Emperatriz de Austria , designed by Hermógenes González de Guisado. However, the outbreak of the Civil War halted the contest until 1965, the year in which the Carnivals were already known as the "Winter Festivals". From then on, this event was revived, now under the title of Queen of the Carnival, with the election gala held at the Teatro Guimerá, all organised by the Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Later the contest moved to the Plaza de Toros, then to the Plaza de la Candelaria-Plaza España, and finally to the Recinto Ferial.

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