Miss Panama (2021)

In 1980, Gloria Karamañites became the first Black woman to be named Miss Panama. Prior to her victory, pageant officials maneuvered to deny her the crown by demanding that she answer an additional obscure legal question. MISS PANAMA is a short documentary exploring Gloria's experiences navigating racism, and the actions taken by the Afro-Panamanian community to rally around their Queen and defend her efforts to represent the country. Through Gloria's story, larger issues of race, national identity and the ripple effects of US imperialism come into view. Featuring a vibrant collage of archival, verité and personal testimony the series asks - who gets to represent a nation?