Miss Peru

Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia

Maria Julia was born in Trujillo, a city on the north coast of Peru. She is currently studying to become a High School Teacher, but also plans to start a second career in Tourism in order to help promote all the interesting places of her hometown, which has the biggest archaeological monument on the coast of Peru, CHAN, a city made of sand. Three years ago Maria Julia was a national champion of Triathlon and Pentathlon, she considers it very important to combine intellectual affairs with sports as it is the only way to have balance. In her leisure time Maria Julia enjoys painting, watching movies, sport and dancing, she is a professional in the typical local dance, The Macarena . Her personal motto is "My family are my strength".


Where did you grow up? Tell us a little about your home town/city, and family.
I grew up in Trujillo a city in the north coast of Peru. My city is a mixture between colonial and pre-Columbian architecture. I’m the older of two sisters, and we are a very united family. My mother and my father are my support and best advisors.

What Jobs have you done? What was the most interesting/bizarre?
I have worked as a model, also as a TV Hostess in a very popular program in Peru. The most interesting thing in my life was to compete in the national games in pentathlon. The most bizarre thing: all my family disguised as the ADAMS FAMILY in a Halloween night, and we walked all over my neighbourhood, I was Morticia…people were looking at us with fear.

What are your career ambitions, how do you plan to realise them?
I want to open my own tourism company online. I live in a city with so many historic attractions. I would like to promote my town and country all over the world.

What is the proudest moment of your life? (Not including winning your National Title)
When I was elected national athlete of the year. I competed in the pentathlon.

What was the funniest/most embarrassing moment of your life?
Disguised as the Adams Family in the Halloween of last year. Imagine grown-ups walking like monsters in my city downtown. Embarrassing, well I think starting before time in a race in a stadium with 40,000 people.

What was the funniest/most embarrassing moment of your life?
I became a public image. Before the title I was a little bit shy, but now everybody knows me. Also I have learnt a lot about my country, nice things and sad things. It is hard, but also interesting visiting people with so many problems. I grew up learning about the problems of other people. This also taught me that we must thank God every day for being healthy and having happy lives - that is priceless.

Tell us about an interesting event you have attended, or a person that you have met.
During my social work in Peru, I visited a young boy of 19 who had Tuberculosis and was in really bad condition. He was in bed in hospital suffering a lot, but he had a book of history in his hand. He told me that when he gets better, he wants to be a teacher. For me this boy is the most interesting person I ever met, because I learned through him a great lesson. "When the going gets tough the tough gets going". We can never loose hope. I think that is the best lesson in life.

What would you like to do, if you became Miss World 2004?
I would like to use my title to help others, especially kids that are suffering of different diseases. I know that if I become Miss World, I will have the chance to meet important people who can help me in the crusade to help others.

If you had a personal motto what would it be?
Of course my family. They are my strength.

Give details of any charitable work undertaken?
I have developed a program in my hometown, Trujillo, giving breakfast to hundreds of kids in the poor areas. We work with a group of ladies, and we visit poor schools, giving breakfast to children. It is amazing and sad to see their faces change in front of a glass of milk. We have worked with companies that now are providing daily breakfast in poor schools.

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