La Candidata (2021) is a poignant and insightful documentary that immerses audiences in a clandestine world where beauty, identity, and gender intersect. Directed by Ronald Rivas Casallas and Emil Guevara Malavé, this film explores the personal and collective journeys of five contestants vying for the crown of Miss Gay Venezuela , a beauty pageant that challenges the traditional norms of femininity and gender identity. The documentary offers a window into the lives of individuals who, through the lens of beauty contests, navigate societal expectations, personal discovery, and the desire to redefine beauty standards in a country with rigid gender norms.
The documentary revolves around the lives of five contestants - Eduardo Ramírez, Yawaldo Nieves, Dayana Aglerth, Argenis González, and Daniela Blanco Valera -who take part in the 2015 edition of the Miss Gay Venezuela contest. Throughout the film, the contestants share intimate stories of their personal transformations, affirmations of sexual orientation, and gender identity. The film highlights their individual struggles and triumphs as they confront societal norms about masculinity and femininity in a deeply machismo culture. La Candidata not only captures the contestants’ physical preparation for the pageant but also delves into their emotional and psychological journeys. It is a story of self-discovery, resilience, and the exploration of gender identity, set against the backdrop of a beauty contest that serves as both an escape and an opportunity for empowerment. The contestants’ stories provide a multifaceted look at the concepts of gender, body image, and beauty, showing how these concepts are both imposed by society and embraced by those who seek validation through them.
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The idea for La Candidata emerged when Emil Guevara, who had previously worked on a reality show related to Miss Gay Venezuela , was introduced to the world of beauty construction embodied by the contestants. This experience inspired Guevara to collaborate with Ronald Rivas to create a documentary that would give voice to a largely overlooked group in Venezuelan society. Rivas, who has worked extensively as a filmmaker, saw La Candidata as one of the most significant stories he had captured in his career, given the challenges faced by the contestants, who often confront harsh societal judgments about their gender expression. The film was co-produced by Venezuela and Mexico and made its debut at the 2021 Guadalajara International Film Festival, where it competed for the prestigious Maguey Award. Since its release, La Candidata has been presented at numerous film festivals, including the XX Venezuelan Film Festival, where it won the Best Documentary Feature award in 2024. It was also showcased at the Caracas Docs Festival, where it received the Audience Award and Best Documentary. Emil Guevara describes the film as more than just a documentary - it is a journey into the lives of five diverse individuals, shedding light on their experiences in a patriarchal society. He notes that the film’s exploration of the beauty industry, particularly within the LGBT+ community, is a significant cultural statement in Venezuela, where beauty pageants are deeply ingrained in the national identity.
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Although the filmmakers critique beauty pageants and their commercialized, stereotypical notions of femininity, they also acknowledge the importance of these contests in the lives of the participants. For many in the LGBT+ community, Miss Gay Venezuela offers a rare platform to express their identity, gain validation, and be celebrated for their beauty. The contestants find a sense of belonging and empowerment through the applause and admiration of the audience, which serves as a form of recognition in a society where they are often marginalized. Ronald Rivas explains that the applause from the audience is not merely an external validation but a vital affirmation of their self-worth, helping the contestants feel admired, included, and validated. For these contestants, the experience of participating in Miss Gay Venezuela becomes transformative - both personally and publicly. The documentary also sheds light on the broader LGBT+ community and their complex relationship with societal expectations, particularly in a country where legislation often does not protect sexual diversity. The documentary's portrayal of the contestants' efforts to align their bodies with an ideal of femininity challenges traditional ideas about what it means to be beautiful and questions how societal norms about gender and beauty are constructed.
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The production of La Candidata began in 2015, during a particularly turbulent period in Venezuela, marked by political and economic upheaval. Emil Guevara and Ronald Rivas felt compelled to capture the essence of Venezuelan identity, particularly the ways in which beauty contests have become a cultural cornerstone. Drawing from Guevara’s experience working on the reality show Todo por la corona , which focused on the Miss Gay Venezuela contest, and Rivas’s connections within the community, the filmmakers were able to gain an authentic understanding of the contest’s significance and the personal stories of the contestants. The idea behind the documentary was to explore the contestants’ transformation into "misses" - not only in terms of their physical appearance but in terms of their inner transformations. The filmmakers were fascinated by the process through which men, often raised with strict societal ideas about masculinity, could embrace their feminine side to participate in a beauty contest that celebrates an ideal of beauty often restricted to women. Rivas and Guevara were aware that by focusing on such a sensitive subject - beauty, gender, and the LGBT+ experience in Venezuela - they were touching on a deeply ingrained part of the national psyche. Venezuela’s obsession with beauty is evident in its long history of beauty pageants, including Miss Venezuela , which has shaped the country’s global image. Miss Gay Venezuela , however, represents an alternative space for individuals whose identities and desires do not fit within the conventional gender norms.
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Through La Candidata, Rivas and Guevara invite viewers to reconsider the ways in which society defines beauty. The documentary gives voice to those who have been excluded from the traditional beauty pageant scene, offering a raw and unfiltered look at their transformations - both physical and emotional. The film explores how beauty is not merely a physical attribute but an expression of identity and self-perception. The contestants’ journey reflects their struggle to reconcile society’s gender expectations with their own desires and identities. The documentary does not shy away from the intense emotional and physical labor involved in constructing a beauty queen persona, particularly when this transformation requires navigating a highly gendered and often hostile society. La Candidata also explores the significance of body image, self-worth, and personal validation, providing a platform for a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding gender and beauty. In their personal testimonies, the contestants reveal how the experience of participating in Miss Gay Venezuela helped them understand themselves better, empowering them to live more authentically despite the challenges they faced. The documentary’s poignant portrayal of their transformations - both internal and external - demonstrates how beauty, identity, and gender are deeply intertwined and cannot be separated from the broader societal and cultural context in which they exist.
La Candidata is more than just a documentary about a beauty pageant. It is a thought-provoking exploration of gender, identity, and the pursuit of beauty in a society where these concepts are rigidly defined. The film offers a window into the world of Miss Gay Venezuela , revealing the powerful and personal stories behind the contestants’ desire to be recognized as beautiful, regardless of their gender. In doing so, La Candidata challenges traditional notions of femininity and beauty while celebrating the diversity and resilience of those who dare to redefine these ideals. The documentary has garnered widespread acclaim for its sensitive yet daring portrayal of the contestants’ journeys, and its impact continues to resonate with audiences around the world. By presenting an intimate portrait of individuals who challenge conventional beauty standards, La Candidata provides an important contribution to the ongoing conversation about gender, identity, and the beauty industry.
Image credits: YouTube
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