Leonora Jiménez facts for kids

Leonora Jiménez Monge was born in 1983 in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. She is a famous Costa Rican model and activist. She won the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant in 2005. However, she later lost her title because she also took part in the Miss World 2005 competition. The Miss Asia Pacific title then went to Evgeniya Lapova from Russia. Leonora did not make it to the final rounds in Miss World.

Leonora is known for her work in modeling, business, and helping the environment. She has worked with many big fashion brands and designers. She also uses her platform to support important causes.

Leonora's Career and Projects

In 2007, Leonora started promoting her own product called Vita Fitness. She also had a TV show called Vita Fitness: El Desafío (Vita Fitness: The Challenge). This show helped people see how the product worked. She also appeared in ads for "Veet."

In 2008, she hosted the second season of Supermodel Centroamérica. This show was like the Latin American version of America's Next Top Model. Leonora has also done photo shoots for famous brands like Loeve and Chanel. She has posed for magazines such as Elle and Telva.

She was a presenter for the Miss Costa Rica pageant in 2011. Leonora has worked with many top designers and brands from Costa Rica and around the world. These include Matilde Cano, Custo Barcelona, Dior, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Protecting Our Oceans

In 2013, Leonora worked with her brother, Andrés Jiménez Monge. He is a wildlife biologist and activist. Together, they led a campaign called "Salvemos Nuestros Mares" (Save Our Seas). This campaign was very successful. It helped to ban shrimp trawling in Costa Rica. Shrimp trawling is a fishing method that can harm the ocean floor and other sea animals.

The campaign also helped the President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, see the need to improve fishing practices. Many groups joined forces to support this change. They formed a group called "Frente por Nuestros Mares" (Front for Our Seas).

Leonora's Businesses and Interests

Leonora has her own beauty salon called Allure, which opened in 2013. She also owns a store called Tiffi. Besides her businesses, Leonora spends time on social causes. She cares a lot about protecting the environment and helping people.

She practices karate, which is a martial art. In December 2023, she married Mariano Herrera.

Magazine Appearances

Leonora has been featured on the covers of several magazines.

• She posed for Perfil magazine in Costa Rica in 2008.
• In 2011, she appeared on the cover of Soho magazine in Costa Rica. This was for their fifth anniversary special edition. For this, Leonora traveled to different cities to pose for photographers. These cities included Madrid, Paris, Milan, Poznan, and Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.

In 2013, Leonora started her own fashion magazine called Traffic. She is the editor and manager of this magazine.

Fashion Week Director

Leonora Jiménez was also the director of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week San Jose. This big fashion event was held in Costa Rica for several years, up until 2020.

Awards and Recognition

At the Miss Asia Pacific International 2005 pageant, Leonora won two special awards:

• Best in National Costume
• Best in Swimsuit

Television and Public Campaigns

Leonora has appeared on television and in many public campaigns:

• Super Model Centroamérica (2007 and Cycle 2 in 2008)
• Vita Fitness product announcements (2007/2008)
• Vita Fitness: Vita Desafío (TV show promo, 2007)
• Veet product announcements (2007/2008)
• Presenter for Miss Costa Rica 2011
• In 2013, she promoted reading by saying, "I invite you to read with me." This was shown on Channel 13 in Costa Rica.
• She took part in an advertisement against child labor. She worked with other public figures from Costa Rica for this important cause.
• Leonora has given interviews on various TV shows in Costa Rica.
• She has been the face of a campaign against drinking and driving. The message was "Si tomas, no manejes" (If you drink, don't drive).

Fashion Runway Work

Leonora has walked the runway for many fashion shows:

• Paris Fashion Week 2012: She modeled for On Aura Tout Vu. She even opened and closed their show.
• Costa Rica: She walked for MNG in 2006. She also organized and modeled in the fashion week in San Jose in 2013, presented by Mercedes-Benz. She modeled in many fashion shows for UCreativa (Creative University of Costa Rica).
• Spain: She modeled for the popular Pasarela Gaudi in Barcelona.

Supporting Diversity

Leonora is a strong supporter of diversity rights. In 2013, she participated in a march in Costa Rica that supported diversity.