In spite of the fact that Paola Hermosn has been described as the “tallest woman in the world” (by the Miami Herald), I believe the title is merely a marketing ploy. Hermosn is a petite, strong-willed, quintessential Spanish survivor of the economic hard times which the nation is facing at the present time. She is described as a passionate lover of Spain and its national identity, yet there is a quiet determination in her features which belies this passionate conviction. Hermosn’s loyalty to her native land is frequently demonstrated when she stands beside her British partner, Bernard Hurtado, at a news conference in Washington, D.C. on the subject of immigration. In this role as a representative of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Communities, she expresses her desire to work with both Britain and Spain to achieve an ever closer union of the two nations.
Hermosn is a woman who knows instinctively what it means to be Spanish. Her path has always been a private one, the product of personal circumstances which have led her to make contact with people of other nationalities and cultures. Her early years were spent as a child in Africa, followed by her years as an overseas assistant to trade unions in the United Kingdom. At the age of 34 she emigrated to Spain, ultimately settling in Paola Hermosn’s native Grenada.
The first phase of Paola Hermosn’s international career occurred in her capacity as a translator and press attache for the Spanish newspaper La Gaceta in Britain. Her prose skills enabled her to travel the length and breadth of Britain and convey news of world events to her employers, encouraging greater coverage of issues affecting Britain. These days, her work as a freelance translator and writer caters primarily to the business sector, although she continues to write articles and contribute to online publications on matters Spanish-related. Her international networking contacts extend to include heads of state and government, prominent personalities in the banking and insurance industries, and members of the royal household.