Francys Sudnicka - Miss Venezuela 2003

Miss Venezuela 2003

In 2003, Barraza was named a semifinalist in the Miss Centroccidental preliminary, one of the largest selections of candidates for Venezuela's powerful national pageant. The judges gave away the titles of six states in Venezuela to the winners of that pageant, but did not select Barraza. However, the president of the Miss Venezuela pageant, overruled them and ordered that Barraza (and two other ultimately unsuccessful contestants) be sent to the capital to prepare for Miss Venezuela 2003. After passing the final rounds of elimination, Barraza was appointed as the representative of the state of Trujillo and became a moderate favorite to win that year's pageant. She finished in the top ten, beating out many contestants who had placed ahead of her in the semifinal rounds that year and in previous years.