Alisson Abarca

Alisson Abarca (born 25 January 1996) is a Salvadoran model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe El Salvador 2017. She represented El Salvador at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant.

Alisson Abarca
Born	Alisson Abarca (1996-01-25) 25 January 1996 (age 29) San Salvador, El Salvador
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title	Miss Universe El Salvador 2017
Hair color	Dark Brown
Eye color	Brown
Major competition(s)	Miss Universe El Salvador 2017 (Winner) Miss Universe 2017 (Unplaced)

Pageantry

Miss Universe El Salvador 2017

Abarca was crowned Miss Universe El Salvador 2017 on July 7, 2017, and competed at Miss Universe 2017 but did not place.^{[citation needed]} She was the subject of some controversy in El Salvador for having some plastic surgery after her national win and before the Miss Universe pageant.^[1][2]

Miss Universe 2017

As Miss Universe El Salvador, she competed at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant.^[3] She gave all her press junket interviews in English, which has not been common for prior representatives from the country.^[4]

Personal

Abarca was the valedictorian of her class in high school and speaks English fluently.^[5][6] Abarca is seeking a bachelor's degree in English and hopes to become an English teacher.^[5] Abarca was still a university student when she was crowned Miss Universe El Salvador in 2017.^[7]

She received both criticism and support for using cosmetic surgery, including breast enhancement,^[8] to improve her appearance in preparation for the Miss Universe pageant.^[9][10] Abarca says she is not ashamed.^[11][12]

During the Miss Universe pageant, Abarca dressed in an elaborate costume as "Goddess of the River Lempa."^[13][14] However, during her performance she tripped several times over the fake boat from her costume and couldn't finish the catwalk.^[13][15][16] Although it likely contributed to her loss, she received an outpouring of support from her fans.^[13]

Abarca enjoys soccer, softball, singing and belly dancing. She volunteers at a local orphanage and at her church.^[2][5] She is 1.65 meters (5'4") tall, and has been criticized as being too short for pageantry.^[17][18]

Further reading

• "Miss Universo 2017: El curioso accidente de Alisson Abarca, Miss El Salvador, en traje típico" [Miss Universe 2017: The curious accident of Alisson Abarca, Miss El Salvador, in traditional costume]. panamericana.pe (in Spanish). Panamericana Televisión. November 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
• "El Salvador tiene nuevas reinas de belleza" [El Salvador has new queens of beauty]. elsalvador.com (in Spanish). El Diario de Hoy. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
• "Así quedó Miss El Salvador 2017 después de unos "arreglitos" en el quirófano" [This was Miss El Salvador after a few "little arrangements" in the operating room]. laprensagrafica.com (in Spanish). La Prensa Gráfica. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
• Arauval, Perla (25 September 2017). "Miss El Salvador se somete a cirugías para ganar concurso" [Miss El Salvador undergoes surgery to win contest]. soycarmin.com (in Spanish). El Debate. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
• "Así fue la dificultosa presentación de El Salvador con su traje típico de "Diosa del río Lempa"" [This was El Salvador's difficult presentation of her traditional costume "Goddess of the River Lempa"]. solonoticias.com (in Spanish). 27 November 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2018.