Orihuela to Honour Nine Inspirational Women at Únicas Gala 2026

The City Council of Orihuela will honour nine inspirational women at the 2026 Únicas Gala on September 12 at La Lonja Auditorium. The event, organised by the Equality Department, aims to give greater visibility to women who have made significant achievements in various fields and serve as role models for the younger generations of Orihuela.

The nine women will receive awards across eight categories, including education, communication, sport, social action, culture, science, entrepreneurship, and equality. Education award recipient Pilar Legua Murcia is an agricultural engineer who has led her department at Miguel Hernández University for over 25 years and has published more than 100 scientific papers.

Communication award winner Alejandra Martínez Cuenca is a primary school teacher and content creator with over 199,000 online followers. Sport award recipient Andrea Roda Martínez is a professional handball player who has achieved promotion to the top flight of Spanish women's handball and competed in the Copa de la Reina.

Social action award recipient Pilar Ibáñez Aniorte is a social worker who has supported various vulnerable groups and coordinated volunteer programmes. Culture award recipient Pilar Fabregat Baeza is a pianist, choir director, researcher, and teacher who has made significant contributions to preserving and promoting Orihuela's musical heritage.

Science and Research award recipient Pura Ballester Navarro is a pharmacist and bioengineering specialist whose research focuses on autism and medication errors. Entrepreneur award recipients Ángeles and Reme Marcos Beltrán are sisters who founded a successful workwear and textile company in 1988. Finally, Equality and Tackling Gender Violence award recipient María Isabel Barberá Riquelme is an optometrist and educator who promotes gender equality and prevents gender-based violence.

Orihuela's Mayor Pepe Vegara congratulated the recipients and praised their talent, perseverance, and values. The gala is seen as another step towards building a society in which equality is treated as a fundamental principle.