Athenea Pérez

Athenea Pérez Nsué (born 6 May 1996) is a Spanish model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Spain 2023. She represented her country at Miss Universe 2023 and finished in the top 10. As the delegate of Spain to the Miss Universe 2023 pageant, Pérez became the first woman of black descent to represent the country in the Miss Universe pageant.

Family background
Pérez was born to a Spanish father and an Equatorial Guinean mother. She is of Fang and Bubi descent on her maternal side. At the age of 4, she began practicing rhythmic gymnastics. Regarding her mixed race, Pérez has stated, "as for something public, I think it's the first time I've been attacked because of my skin color. And I think it's not because they didn't want to attack me before, but that the reason is in social media. They are part of our daily lives and before, they simply existed, but they were a complement and not an extension of us. Now it's easier to give your opinion and hide your hand."

Pérez first participated in the Miss World Spain competition when she was 17 but did not advance far in the competition. On 2 July 2023, after her crowning, she wrote on her Instagram:

"''“At 17 years old, I introduced myself to Miss World Spain. I didn't rank, but I knew I would achieve something big one day. Ten years later, I was crowned Miss Universe Spain 2023. Life makes it clear that dreams do come true. What is for you will come. That if you put your heart to something, it will come true.

“Together we will do something great. Together we will go for the next crown.'''"

As an Equatorial Guinean descent on her mother's side and Muline's on her father's side, Pérez will be the first representative of racialized Spain, which led her to face some racist insults on social networks. "I'm very sad. I was shocked. I've lived here all my life. I was born here. I'm from Churra and half muleña because of my father. It strikes me that this is happening in a society with so many cultures, which for me means wealth. I love my city and I'm proud to be from Murcia," she after being crowned Miss Universe Spain''. ''

Education
Pérez graduated in Marketing and Advertising. Her victory makes her the eleventh representative of Miss Universe Spain in the history of the pageant, which has featured Amparo Muñoz, the only Spanish winner in 1974, and Carla Barber.

Miss Universe 2023
Pérez represented Spain at the 72nd Miss Universe competition which was held in El Salvador last 18 November 2023 .She finished as one of the Top 10 finalists and won the "Miss Congeniality" award.