COSTA Rican beauty, as eulogized forforeigners’ ears anywhere men gather fordrinks, has been canonized at last with theconsecration of the new Chica E! of CentralAmerica, Costa Rican Pamela Alfaro.She was chosen from among 3,000candidates who were whittled down duringthe past several months to three youngwomen, out of whom Alfaro was electedlast month. Her competition included professionalmodels, actresses, TV show hostessesand amateur beauties from throughoutthe isthmus (TT, May 6).Alfaro took 37% of the vote in a finalonline campaign against two other contestants,chosen by a virtual voting public ofmore than 30,000 who cast their votes onwww.eonlinelatino.com.She began filming the one-hour specialon tourism in Central America immediatelyfollowing the final vote count in El Salvadorand finished last week in Costa Rica.“I’m very content to work with E! andto film this special,” she told The TicoTimes. Of the areas she has promoted totourists for the show so far, those in CostaRica “are the best, of course,” she said.Alfaro, 20, was born in San José, studiesdentistry and has made inroads in afledgling singing career after opening aconcert for heartthrob singer of Latinromantic music David Bisbal in late 2003.She applied for the position as CentralAmerica’s first E! hostess through theentertainment company’s Web site, but didnot think she would be chosen.“I can’t hide my happiness. For me,this is like a dream come true,” she said.
