The restoration of the Virgin of the Macarena, a 17th-century religious statue in Seville, has sparked widespread controversy and emotional reactions among local devotees. The restoration included changes such as adding extra-long eyelashes and more makeup, which many worshippers felt altered the Virgin's traditional expression and appearance. This led to protests, public demonstrations, and calls for the resignation of the Hermandad de la Macarena's governing board. Hundreds of people gathered outside the basilica to express their dissatisfaction, with some devotees reportedly moved to tears by the new look. The Hermandad issued a public apology for the "moral and emotional damage" caused by the restoration and announced the resignations of two key officials responsible for the statue's care, the mayordomo and the prioste. The controversy raised questions about the oversight and preservation mechanisms for religious images owned by confraternities. In response to the backlash, experts have been tasked with restoring the Virgin of the Macarena to its original appearance, aiming to recover its traditional gaze and look. Meanwhile, in a separate development, plans to build the world’s tallest statue of Christ near Madrid have emerged, with the proposed statue set to surpass the height of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro by one meter and include an interior chapel featuring a golden heart proportional to the statue's size.