Mara Topić

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Topić and the second or maternal family name is Verduga.

Mara Topić
Born
Mara Štefica Topić Verduga

(1994-03-18) 18 March 1994 (age 30)
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title
Hair colorBrown[1]
Eye colorHazel[1]
Major
competition(s)

Mara Štefica Topić Verduga is an Ecuadorian beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Ecuador 2024, and represented Ecuador at Miss Universe 2024. She placed in the top 30.[2]

She previously won Miss Grand Ecuador 2019, and represented Ecuador at Miss Grand International 2019, where and finished in the top ten.[3][4][5]

Early life and education

Mara Štefica Topić Verduga[1] was born in Guayaquil, to an Ecuadorian mother and a Croatian father. At the age of 18, she moved to Los Angeles, California. Her eldest brother Jan Topić is a former Ecuadorian presidential candidate for the 2023 Ecuadorian general election. Topic had Hashimoto's thyroiditis, has had to wear a wig.[6][7]

Pageantry

On April 27, 2019, Topic represented the US Ecuadorian community at Miss World Ecuador 2019, where she reached the top nine and won several[specify] awards during the final. In May, 2019 she was appointed Miss Grand Ecuador 2019, by CNB Ecuador.[8]

On October 25, 2019, Topić represented Ecuador at Miss Grand International 2019, and reached the top 10. She was the first Ecuadorian to win Best National Costume at the pageant.[citation needed]

Topic won the first Miss Universe Ecuador on June 8, 2024 representing Guayaquil, and represented Ecuador at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico on November 16 2024.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Haczek, Ángela Reyes (June 9, 2024). "Mara Topic es la nueva Miss Universo Ecuador; la concursante Yajaira Quizhpi de 46 años no entró en el top 13". CNN (in Spanish). Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "Mara Topic Miss Universe Ecuador 2024". Pageantopolis. June 13, 2024. She defeated 25 other candidates earning the right to represent Ecuador in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant which will be held in Mexico. She was crowned by the reigning Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios in a ceremony held at Parque Zoila Ugarte de Landívar in Machala, El Oro.
  3. ^ "Mara Topic, candidata a Miss Universo Ecuador, dice: "(Sheynnis Palacios) no era la más bella, ella se creía la más bella"". El Universo (in Spanish). May 17, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Navarrete, Irving (May 20, 2024). "Miss Universo Ecuador: Critican a Mara Topic, candidata, por decir "abrido"". El Diario Ecuador (in Spanish). Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "Mara Topic to represent Ecuador at Miss Grand International 2019". www.femina.in. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  6. ^ "¿Qué es la enfermedad de Hashimoto, que tiene Miss Universo Ecuador, Mara Topic?" (in Spanish). Primicias.com. June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  7. ^ "Jan Topic sobre el triunfo de su hermana Mara en Miss Universo Ecuador: "Lo tiene bien merecido"" (in Spanish). El Universo.com. June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  8. ^ "Mara Topic, la ecuatoriana ganadora al mejor traje típico en el Miss Grand International, agradeció a sus seguidores" (in Spanish). El Universo.com. October 31, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  9. ^ "Mara Topic, de Guayaquil, es la Miss Universo Ecuador 2024" (in Spanish). El Universo.com. June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Blanca Arambulo
 Miss Grand Ecuador
2019 		Succeeded by
Sonia Luna
Preceded by Miss Universe Ecuador
2024 		Succeeded by
TBA