Laura Zúñiga
Encyclopedia
Laura Elena Zúñiga Huizar (born January 3, 1985 in Culiacán
, Sinaloa
) is a Mexican
model and beauty queen, center of a drug trafficking scandal in December of 2008. The critically acclaimed 2011 film, Miss Bala
, (Miss Bullet) is loosely based on Zúñiga and her involvement in the events of December 2008.
, held on September 20, 2008 in Monterrey
, Nuevo León
, where she placed as the suplente and was automatically selected to represent the country in the Miss International 2009
pageant.
On October 30, 2008 she participated in Reina Hispanoamericana (Hispanic-American Queen) representing Mexico in Santa Cruz, Bolivia bringing the title to Mexico for the first time.
, Jalisco
, along with seven men who allegedly carried US$53,000 in cash, two AR-15 rifles, three handguns, 633 cartridges of different calibers, and 16 cellphones. The arrest was made by the state police of Zapopan and Mexican Army officers. In her initial statement, Zúñiga declared that she was on her way to a party in Guadalajara and that she and her boyfriend were going "shopping in Colombia and Bolivia." The media noted that Colombia and Bolivia are both, main suppliers of cocaine to the Mexican drug cartels. During a later interview with Joaquin Lopez Doriga in Radio Formula, Zúñiga declared that she was kidnapped by her boyfriend Ángel Orlando García Urquiza, apparently a high-ranking leader of the Juárez Cartel
and brother of an imprisoned drug lord, and that she was unaware of his illicit activities. The critically acclaimed 2011 film, Miss Bala
, or Miss Bullet, is loosely based on Zúñiga. Several key facts are switched in the film, for example, replacing the setting from Sinaloa to Baja California. The basic structure of Zúñiga's story remains, however, such as the allegations of corruption in the pageant organization, Zúñiga's presentation to the media at the time of her arrest, and her allegations that she was not involved in narcotrafficking. Both Zúñiga and the main character, Laura Guerrero, even wear the same clothing when presented to the media and when crowned beauty queens.
The Nuestra Belleza Mexico organization released a statement saying it had no knowledge of Zúñiga's alleged narco-trafficking ties and that it would decide pending an investigation whether or not to let her keep her crown. "Nuestra Belleza Mexico has been a serious, honest and transparent organization", said the group's president Lupita Jones
, in the statement sent to the media. On December 25, 2008, a second statement was released announcing that Zúñiga had been stripped of her title as Miss Mexico International 2009. Her successor, Ana Gabriela Espinoza Marroquín, was awarded the crown. On December 26, 2008, she was dethroned as Reina Hispanoamericana 2008 and replaced by Vivian Noronha Cia from Brazil.
Zúñiga was sentenced to 40 days under arrest but was released from the detention center on January 30, 2009 after the judge found no evidence that tied her to any criminal activity. As of 2010, Zúñiga has made a quiet comeback into the modeling industry.
Culiacán
Culiacán is a city in northwestern Mexico, the largest city in the state of Sinaloa as well as its capital and capital of the municipality of Culiacán. With 675,773 inhabitants in the city , and 858,638 in the municipality, it is the largest city in the state of Sinaloa...
, Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
) is a Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
model and beauty queen, center of a drug trafficking scandal in December of 2008. The critically acclaimed 2011 film, Miss Bala
Miss Bala
Miss Bala is a 2011 Mexican drama film written and directed by Gerardo Naranjo. The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival...
, (Miss Bullet) is loosely based on Zúñiga and her involvement in the events of December 2008.
Biography
After winning the state pageant title of Nuestra Belleza Sinaloa, Laura Zúñiga competed against thirty-two other contestants in the national pageant Nuestra Belleza México 2008Nuestra Belleza Mexico 2008
The 15th annual Nuestra Belleza México pageant, was held at the Arena Monterrey of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico on September 20, 2008. Thirty-three contestants competed for the national title, which was won by Karla Carrillo of Jalisco, who later competed in Miss Universe 2009. Carrillo was...
, held on September 20, 2008 in Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
, Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
, where she placed as the suplente and was automatically selected to represent the country in the Miss International 2009
Miss International 2009
Miss International 2009, the 49th Miss International pageant, was held at the Sichuan International Tennis Center, Chengdu, Sichuan, China on November 28, 2009. The pageant was originally scheduled to be held at The Venetian Macao in Macau on November 7, 2009, but the host committee backed out. 66...
pageant.
On October 30, 2008 she participated in Reina Hispanoamericana (Hispanic-American Queen) representing Mexico in Santa Cruz, Bolivia bringing the title to Mexico for the first time.
Scandal
On December 22, 2008, Laura Zúñiga was arrested in ZapopanZapopan
Zapopan is a city and municipality located in the Mexican state of Jalisco, which is part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area. It is best known as being the home of the Virgin of Zapopan, an image of the Virgin Mary which was made in the 16th century. This image has been credited with a number of...
, Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, along with seven men who allegedly carried US$53,000 in cash, two AR-15 rifles, three handguns, 633 cartridges of different calibers, and 16 cellphones. The arrest was made by the state police of Zapopan and Mexican Army officers. In her initial statement, Zúñiga declared that she was on her way to a party in Guadalajara and that she and her boyfriend were going "shopping in Colombia and Bolivia." The media noted that Colombia and Bolivia are both, main suppliers of cocaine to the Mexican drug cartels. During a later interview with Joaquin Lopez Doriga in Radio Formula, Zúñiga declared that she was kidnapped by her boyfriend Ángel Orlando García Urquiza, apparently a high-ranking leader of the Juárez Cartel
Juárez Cartel
The Juárez Cartel , also known as the Vicente Carrillo Fuentes Organization, is a Mexican drug cartel based in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, across the border from El Paso, Texas...
and brother of an imprisoned drug lord, and that she was unaware of his illicit activities. The critically acclaimed 2011 film, Miss Bala
Miss Bala
Miss Bala is a 2011 Mexican drama film written and directed by Gerardo Naranjo. The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival...
, or Miss Bullet, is loosely based on Zúñiga. Several key facts are switched in the film, for example, replacing the setting from Sinaloa to Baja California. The basic structure of Zúñiga's story remains, however, such as the allegations of corruption in the pageant organization, Zúñiga's presentation to the media at the time of her arrest, and her allegations that she was not involved in narcotrafficking. Both Zúñiga and the main character, Laura Guerrero, even wear the same clothing when presented to the media and when crowned beauty queens.
The Nuestra Belleza Mexico organization released a statement saying it had no knowledge of Zúñiga's alleged narco-trafficking ties and that it would decide pending an investigation whether or not to let her keep her crown. "Nuestra Belleza Mexico has been a serious, honest and transparent organization", said the group's president Lupita Jones
Lupita Jones
María Guadalupe "Lupita" Jones Garay became the first Mexican woman to win the title of Miss Universe in 1991.-Miss Universe 1991:...
, in the statement sent to the media. On December 25, 2008, a second statement was released announcing that Zúñiga had been stripped of her title as Miss Mexico International 2009. Her successor, Ana Gabriela Espinoza Marroquín, was awarded the crown. On December 26, 2008, she was dethroned as Reina Hispanoamericana 2008 and replaced by Vivian Noronha Cia from Brazil.
Zúñiga was sentenced to 40 days under arrest but was released from the detention center on January 30, 2009 after the judge found no evidence that tied her to any criminal activity. As of 2010, Zúñiga has made a quiet comeback into the modeling industry.