Miss Venezuela returns to the Poliedro de Caracas following 9 years. She does it to commemorate her 70th birthday and her intention is to give Venezuelans a moment of joy. However, the general manager of the contest, Nina Sicilyclarifies that the production of the contest will be different from that of previous years and in which Joaquín Riviera sought to recreate a Broadway-style show.
«I always like to answer that things are neither better nor worse than they were before. Things are different because each moment, each stage, has its own charm; it has its own way of being carried out. Also the resources are different, the times are different and even the public is evolving and is demanding new things”, said Sicilia.
The Miss Venezuela Organization has held meetings with Venevisión to discuss what the event would be like, which will take place on November 16, but Sicilia maintains that the last word in terms of production is Hugo Carregal and Erick “El Pollo” Simonato.
«We are indeed in alignment with Advanta Producciones and Venevisión. We are aiming at a current show, one of those that today the whole world is used to seeing at the level of musical shows, award ceremonies and beauty pagents all over the world. We are trying to align ourselves with that style without forgetting the essence of Miss Venezuela.”
In the Polihedron despite the crisis
And despite the fact that the decision to return to the Poliedro de Caracas occurs in a context in which some speak of a supposed economic improvement in Venezuela, criticism has not ceased to be present. Citizens question that an event like Miss Venezuela is held in a politicized venue and in the midst of an economic crisis that has been going on since at least 2014. On this subject, Sicilia prefers to speak personally and not on behalf of the organization.
“Societies cannot be paralyzed. In the worst circumstances of countries that have sadly even gone through a war, there are times for fun, to meet, to share, to try to recover the emotion and have a moment of peace. We need to have fun, clear our heads, have illusions and look forward. Doing Miss Venezuela in the Polyhedron does not change things, it simply adds joy to Venezuelans.
—It has been 5 years since you took over as general manager of Miss Venezuela. What challenges do you think she has overcome and what is the balance that she makes regarding her management within the organization?
—I believe that we have basically overcome the challenges that every person in the world has had to overcome in the last five years. I think the biggest challenge has been to activate creativity, ingenuity. That is a maxim that I have always kept in mind and that is that necessity actually sharpens ingenuity. That is the exercise that we have had to do and that is the biggest challenge that I constantly have. Above all, unite wills to try to all walk focused towards the objective, not to disperse our objective towards trying to solve problems in isolated or individual ways, but to combine all resources. From the point of view of motivation, the motivation we have always had at Cisneros Media is incredible. We have always been clear that Miss Venezuela is a wonderful brand. And that the Miss Venezuela pageant is loved throughout the world. Also that the Venezuelan has Miss Venezuela on his skin and in his heart.
—Since taking over management they have had difficulties. How do you face that this year the contest is in the Polyhedron?
—Well, I face it on a personal level and we face it on a team level with the same enthusiasm, creativity, excellence and desire to do things well, which is usual for us. Whatever the conditions around us. As you say, we have had complex moments at the logistics level. However, what changes are the circumstances. But the way we manage ourselves remains the same: always aiming for excellence. This time it was no different. Yes, we have had to do an exercise in creativity and resistance in recent years because there have indeed been atypical conditions and circumstances worldwide. But thank God we have had a work team, which is not as big as perhaps people imagine when one speaks of the Miss Venezuela Organization, but with the desire to do things well, always aiming for excellence.
—The political and economic crisis is no secret to anyone. Much has been criticized for the contest returning to the Polyhedron at this time. What message is sent to Venezuelans?
—At the moment this opinion is not corporate. It is not an opinion as general manager of Miss Venezuela, it is more a personal opinion. Societies cannot be paralyzed. In the worst circumstances of the countries that have sadly gone through, even through a war, there are times for fun, to meet, to share, to try to recover emotion and recover a moment of peace. I have never been there, but we can see when in times of war, there are even artists who go to the places where the soldiers are and spend a few days and make presentations because the essence of the human being is still there. We need to clear ourselves, have illusions and look forward. Doing Miss Venezuela in the Poliedro does not change things, it simply adds to the joy and happiness of Venezuelans. This has nothing to do with whether or not the circumstances are politically, socially and economically where some of us might want them to be. But one thing does not exclude the other. Because we have certain economic, political or social circumstances we cannot paralyze society. We should not stop working because this is also a source of work for many of our workers, allies and sponsors. People who maintain their homes and who have found in the organization and in this show a way to provide their services. So I think doing it in the Polihedron adds up.
—Despite these efforts, the production of Miss Venezuela has not been very similar to what it was in previous years.
—I always like to answer that things are neither better nor worse than they were before. Things are different because each moment, each stage, has its own charm, its own way of being carried out. The resources are different and the times are different. Even the audiences are evolving and are demanding new things. Therefore, a show cannot remain exactly the same as it was 15 or 20 years ago because everything around it is different. We have had to reinvent ourselves and I always like to make this observation in relation to the television show: the responsibility lies with the television channel, not with Miss Venezuela. The television channel is the one who has that responsibility of creativity, of ingenuity to stage a show that pleases and that is a first world show.
—After the announcement was made that Miss Venezuela was returning to the Polyhedron, many people expressed their emotion at remembering what the contest was like. Aren’t you a little concerned that Venezuelans have expectations of finding a production like that of previous years?
—I have tried to convey very clearly, when I have had the opportunity to express myself in public, effectively what you are asking. That is a key and very important point. I have mentioned that we cannot expect a show exactly the same or in line with what was done years ago, that they were thematic shows, impressive with corporeal sets, which was what was used at that time and with that impressive number of people and artists. on stage. We are adapting to this new way of doing shows, which are visually, I would say, just as attractive and striking. But I mentioned it on one occasion: no, we cannot expect a replica of that model that was so wonderful and successful for so many years because everything has changed. The way of doing this type of television shows has changed, not only in Venezuela but in the world. I do think that the public has a right and I am also one of the people who read all the comments. You can be sure that we try as much as possible to channel those observations.
—Recently, the Miss Universe Organization announced that married or pregnant women can participate. How does Miss Venezuela receive this information? How will the contest be adapted?
—From the Miss Venezuela Organization we receive it as always. We have been very respectful of the guidelines of the Miss Universe franchise. Miss Venezuela has always agreed with everything that has to do with inclusion and evolution. Now. How are we going to adapt or not, how are we going to do it, I can’t answer that until we have more information.
—The regional competitions are back. You have been watching the Comprehensive Presence Evaluation (EPI) closely and you have an important role within the jury of these contests. How has it been to return to that stage?
—The fact that Miss Venezuela returns to the regions reactivates us. She feels a feeling of celebration, of joy when one arrives in each of these regions. Miss Venezuela is felt present there, planted in each region. This year there were only five because operationally we wanted to do well and we did not want to have many franchises that were not 100% attended, therefore we decided on five. But I aspire to double or triple the number of regional franchises next year. It has not been easy to select that regional winner, who will be the official candidate of the state because they are very beautiful and very well prepared young women. They are doing preparation activities just like they are doing in Caracas.
—In the last interview with El Nacional you said you wanted to make changes within the Miss Venezuela Organization. How would Nina Sicilia describe Miss Venezuela today?
—As a nationally and internationally recognized brand. With a committed and optimistic management team and with a general manager who continues to bet on excellence and who continues to face this responsibility every day with greater seriousness, with greater enthusiasm and always under the philosophy of the Cisneros organization with which I have been working for more than 30 years.
