Mexican Celebrations

JUCHITAN, MEXICO - JUNE 6: Twenty-two year old queen Nidia Lopez Lagunas is being helped by her mom as she gets ready to go out for the final party in Juchitan, Mexico, June 6, 2003. Whether it is a religious ceremony or an Indian celebration, every fiesta in Mexico has a Reina-a Queen. Women ranging from ages 12 to 25 are selected to be Queen at least a year in advance and sometimes even five years prior to the festival. The girl must be a virgin in order to be chosen. Although most families are poor, the honor of having a Reina is worth the thousands of dollars they provide to host the celebration and they accept their duty with great pride. Precious time goes into choosing the perfect dress. Whether the girl chooses a traditional Mexican dress, or copies one of their favorite stars, such as Britney Spears or J Lo, these girls live their dream to become a glamorous woman noticed by all. (Photo by Shaul Schwarz/ Getty Images)