It was during her time at university that she won the Miss Guatemala pageant. She went onto compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Long Beach, California the following year in 1959, but ultimately lost the title to Akiko Kojima of Japan. Following her success in pageantry, in 1962, Cruz joined a guerrilla front and, in 1965, she was arrested for storing weapons at her family's farm.
It was during her university tenure that she won the Miss Guatemala pageant. She then went on to participate in the Miss Universe contest in Long Beach, California the following year in 1959, but ultimately lost the title to Akiko Kojima of Japan. Following her triumph in beauty contests, Cruz joined a revolutionary movement in 1962 and was detained in 1965 for storing munitions at her family's farm.