The Miss Perú 2009 pageant was held on April 4, 2009. That year, 22 candidates were competing for the national crown. The chosen winner represented Perú in Miss Universe 2009. The rest of the finalists would enter in different pageants.[3]
Karen became the third Miss Amazonas to win that title since the Miss Peru pageant first began in 1952. The first one was Maria Esther Brambilla, Miss Peru 1968, and the other one was Paola Dellepiane Miss Peru 1995. Karen has German and Peruvian ancestry.
Kori Alegría, Miss Loreto died on March 17, 2010, in a motorcycle accident in Iquitos.