Miss Colombia
Miss Colombia is officially known as the Concurso Nacional de Belleza de Colombia, (National Beauty Contest.) It is the most significant pageant in a country that, like neighboring Venezuela, gives incredible weight to beauty contests. The Miss Colombia pageant elects representatives to Miss Universe and Miss International. The Miss Mundo Colombia pageant is a separate and smaller event that sends Colombia's representative to Miss World. The Miss Earth Colombia pageant is a separate yet sizable country-wide search for Colombia's representative to Miss Earth.
The Miss Colombia pageant is one of the most important cultural events in the country, held annually in the city of Cartagena de Indias. Massive coverage is given by the media to the contest, including by Cromos magazine which devotes entire issues to the individual contestants favored to win, and four covers of the magazine are devoted to the pageant in a 4-week period.
Additionally, every major network sends news crews, and even have special sets built by the beach in Cartagena to report live for at least fifteen minutes every day towards the end of the news broadcast on the goings-on of the contestants. Aspirants must compete in their respective Departments (about twenty of which are represented each year, fluctuating due to the continuing civil unrest in the country) to earn a title for the pageant.
Miss Colombia 2007
Main article: Miss Colombia 2007
The 73rd Miss Colombia pageant was held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on November 12, 2007. The winner of the pageant was Taliana Vargas, delegate from Magdalena.
Rules
Colombia has the strictest rules regarding participation of any Miss Universe preliminary: once a contestant registers for the pageant, she is confined to her own Department and cannot jump states/provinces as happens frequently elsewhere. However, she can participate more than once for the same department; the winner of the pageant in 2003 had already come in fourth place at the Miss Valle pageant the year before she won and eventually went on to win the national crown.
Perhaps this rule is the reason for the intense rivalries that have developed between departments (states) to win the most crowns, a couple of them have garnered a significant number, starting with Atlántico (9), Valle (8), Santander (7), Antioquia (6).
Prelude to the Pageant
The pageant itself always around November 11, and many of the activities, such as the entire production of the Cromos magazines devoted to the pageant take place in the weeks preceding the pageant.
There are a number of preliminary events involving the sponsors, such as the election of the Figura Bodytech (the Bodytech Figure) which confers free gym membership at the Bodytech franchise for five years to the contestant with the most toned, harmonious and healthy body of the pageant.
List Of Winners Of Figura Bodytech Prize
- 2002 - Diana Lucia Mantilla (Santander)
- 2003 - Catherine Daza Manchola (Valle del Cauca)
- 2004 - Adriana Tarud (Atlantico)
- 2005 - Valerie Dominguez (Atlantico)
- 2006 - Laura Montoya (Antioquia)
- 2007 - Maria Cristina Diaz-Granados (Bogotá)
Interestingly, since the prize was first awarded, the winner of the Bodytech Figure prize has gone on to win Miss Colombia each year except for in 2006 and 2007 when they become Runner Ups. There are also prizes for the contestant with the best hair (Silueta Schwarzkopff brand), the most photogenic candidate (Sony), the most punctual (who receives a Eros watch), most beautiful costume, and even the mothers of the delegates must compete in a talent show to select the "Queen Mother."
Interesting Facts
Because of its incredible drawing power in a country facing the effects of war and drug trafficking, the Miss Colombia pageant remains surrounded by as much legend and mystery as the neighboring Miss Venezuela contest.
Among the most notable facts seen on the pageant are:
- Urban city among the pageant
- In Cartagena de Indias, venue of the annual development of the Pageant, school children are given two weeks' holiday in when the pageant arrives.
- Wearing utensilies
- The Gold crown (18 karats, including a beautiful green emerald on a cross decorated with 7 white cubic zirconia topped by a small crown, surrounded by lions placed upon waves which is the emblem of Cartagena) is designed for the winner by the prestigious and traditional Cesareo Jewelers.
- In the last years, the outgoing titleholder crowns her successor in Cartagena de Indias, transferring the gold crown, a precious tortoise-shell scepter, and a gold ring which is carried by Miss Colombia at all times while she is in the country.
- Duties of the current Miss Colombia titleholder
- The winner traditionally confers with the President of Colombia several times during her reign.
Regional Rankings
| Department | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantico | 9 | 1949, 1962, 1967, 1971, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2004, 2005 |
| Valle del Cauca | 8 | 1951, 1953, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1976, 2003 |
| Santander | 7 | 1955, 1963, 1973, 1978, 1980, 1987, 1997 ,2002 |
| Antioquia | 6 | 1957, 1969, 1979, 1981, 1986, 1996 |
| Bolivar | 5 | 1934, 1947, 1961, 1983, 1984 |
| Bogotá | 1975, 1977, 1982, 1991, 1993 | |
| Caldas | 2 | 1958, 1970 |
| Cartagena | 1991, 2000 | |
| Cesar | 1994, 2006 | |
| Guajira | 1985, 1988 | |
| Amazonas | 1 | 1992 |
| Cauca | 1966 | |
| Choco | 2001 | |
| Cundinamarca | 1999 | |
| Magdalena | 2007 | |
| Meta | 1995 | |
| Nariño | 1960 | |
| Norte de Santander | 1963 | |
| Tolima | 1965 |
List of Miss Colombia Titleholders
Miss Colombia titleholders 1934 - 1957
Initially, the pageant's winners held the title for a biennial period; Yolanda Emiliani Roman, Miss Colombia 1934, held her title for the longest reign in the pageant's history.
- 1934 - Yolanda Emiliani Román (Bolívar)
- 1947 - Piedad Gómez Román (Bolívar)
- 1949 - Myriam Sojo Zambrano (Atlántico)
- 1951 - Leonor Navia Orjuela (Valle del Cauca)
- 1953 - Luz Marina Cruz Lozada (Valle del Cauca)
- 1955 - Esperanza Gallón Domínguez (Santander)
- 1957 - Doris Gil Santamaría (Antioquia)
Miss Colombia titleholders 1958 - present
|
|
International participation
Despite the country's fascination with pageants and the incredible efforts and funds expended to prepare winners (including appointing them teams of fashion designers and coaches), it has had a mixed record at international contests. Luz Marina Zuluaga remains the country's only Miss Universe, winning in 1958; she was awarded a mansion and tax exemption for life, an honor which is expected to follow any woman who can retake the world title. Colombians have come close on several occasions, always making the top 15, and from 1992 to 1994 Miss Colombia consecutively placed as first runner-up, and again in 2008 but the Miss Universe title has continued to elude the country. In 2004, for example, Jeymmy Paola Vargas Gómez became the first black woman to win the Miss International crown.
Colombian representatives at Miss Universe
| Year | Titleholder | Department title | Placement in Miss Universe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Luz Marina Zuluaga | Caldas | Miss Universe |
| 1959 | Olga Beatriz Pumarejo Korkor | Semi-Finalist | |
| 1960 | Stella Márquez Zawadski | Nariño | |
| 1961 | Patricia Whitman Owen | ||
| 1962 | Olga Lucia Botero Orozco | Semi-Finalist | |
| 1963 | Maria Cristina Alvarez González | Semi-Finalist | |
| 1964 | Alba Virginia Ramírez Plaza | Semi-Finalist | |
| 1965 | Maria Victoria Ocampo Gómez | Bolivar | Semi-Finalist |
| 1966 | Edna Margarita Rudd Lucena | Tolima | Semi-Finalist |
| 1967 | Elsa Maria Garrido Cajiao | Cauca | |
| 1968 | Luz Elena Restrepo González | Atlántico | |
| 1969 | Margarita Maria Reyes Zawadsky | Atlántico | Semi-Finalist |
| 1970 | Maria Luisa Riascos Velásquez | Antioquia | |
| 1971 | Piedad Mejía Trujillo | Caldas | |
| 1972 | Maria Luisa Lignarolo Martínez-Aparicio | Atlántico | |
| 1973 | Ana Lucía Agudelo Correa | Valle del Cauca | Semi-Finalist |
| 1974 | Ella Cecilia Escandón Palacios | Santander | 3rd runner-up |
| 1975 | Marta Lucía Echeverri Trujillo | Valle del Cauca | Semi-Finalist |
| 1976 | Maria Helena Reyes Abisambra | Bogotá | Semi-Finalist |
| 1977 | Aura Maria Mojica Salcedo | Valle del Cauca | 3rd runner-up |
| 1978 | Mary Shirley Sáenz Starnes | Bogotá | 3rd runner-up |
| 1979 | Ana Milena Parra Turbay | Santander | |
| 1980 | Maria Patricia Arbeláez Peláez | Antioquia | Semi-Finalist |
| 1981 | Ana Edilma (Eddy) Cano Puerta | ||
| 1982 | Nadya Santacruz Quintero | ||
| 1983 | Julie Pauline Sáenz Starnes | Bogotá | |
| 1984 | Susana Caldas Lemaitre | Bolívar | 4th runner-up |
| 1985 | Sandra Eugenia Borda Caldas | Bolívar | |
| 1986 | Maria Mónica Urbina Pugliesse | Guajira | 2nd runner-up |
| 1987 | Maria Patricia López Ruiz | Antioquia | |
| 1988 | Diana Patricia Arévalo Guerra | Santander | Semi-Finalist |
| 1989 | Maria Teresa Egurrola Hinojosa | Guajira | |
| 1990 | Lizeth Yamile Mahecha Arévalo | Atlántico | 2nd runner-up |
| 1991 | Maribel Gutiérrez Tinoco | Atlántico | |
| 1992 | Paola Turbay Gómez | Bogotá | 1st runner-up |
| 1993 | Paula Andrea Betancur Arroyave | Amazonas | 1st runner-up |
| 1994 | Carolina Gómez Correa | Bogotá | 1st runner-up |
| 1995 | Tatiana Castro Abuchaibe | Cesar | Semi-Finalist |
| 1996 | Lina Maria Gaviria Forero | Meta | |
| 1997 | Claudia Elena Vásquez Ángels | Antioquia | |
| 1998 | Silvia Fernanda Ortiz Guerra | Santander | 4th runner-up |
| 1999 | Marianella Maal Pacini | Atlántico | |
| 2000 | Catalina Inés Acosta Albarracín | Cundinamarca | Semi-Finalist |
| 2001 | Andrea Maria Nocetti Gómez | Cartagena | |
| 2002 | Vanessa Alexandra Mendoza Bustos | Chocó | |
| 2003 | Diana Lucia Mantilla Prada | Santander | |
| 2004 | Catherine Daza Manchola | Valle del Cauca | Semi-Finalist |
| 2005 | Adriana Cecilia Tarud Durán | Atlántico | |
| 2006 | Valerie Domínguez Tarud | Atlántico | Semi-Finalist |
| 2007 | Eileen Roca Torralvo | Cesar | |
| 2008 | Taliana María Vargas Carrillo | Magdalena | 1st runner-up |
| 2009 | TBA | TBA |
Colombian representatives at Miss International
| Year | Titleholder | Department title | Miss International placing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Maria Stella Márquez Zawadzky | Nariño | Miss International |
| 1961 | Wilma Kohlgruber Duque | Cundinamarca | |
| 1962 | Sonia Heidman Gómez | Bolivar | |
| 1963 | Martha Ligia Restrepo González | Atlantico | Semi finalist |
| 1964 | Leonor Duplat Sanjuán | Norte de Santander | |
| 1965 | Regina Salcedo Herrera | Atlantico | |
| 1967 | Marta Lucia Guzmán Perdomo | Cundinamarca | |
| 1968 | Rosario Barraza Villa | Semi finalist | |
| 1969 | Laura Fabiola Pimiento Barrera | Cesar | |
| 1971 | Patricia Escobar Rodríguez | Semi finalist | |
| 1972 | Lamia El Kouri Chaia | Valle | Semi finalist |
| 1973 | Tulia Inés Gómez Porras | Santander | Semi finalist |
| 1974 | Beatriz del Carmen Cajiao Velasco | Valle | Semi finalist |
| 1975 | Alina Maria Botero López | Antioquia | Semi finalist |
| 1976 | Alicia Sáenz Madrid | Antioquia | Semi finalist |
| 1977 | Silvia Alicia Pombo Carrillo | Bogotá | |
| 1978 | Olga Lucia Prada Rodríguez | Santander | |
| 1979 | Ivonne Margarita Guerra de la Espriella | Sucre | |
| 1980 | Ana Maria Uribe Giraldo | Bogotá | Semi finalist |
| 1981 | Victoria Eugenia Cárdenas Gerlein | Atlantico | Semi finalist |
| 1982 | Adriana Rumié Gomes-Cásseres | Bolivar | Semi finalist |
| 1983 | Marta Liliana Ruiz Orduz | Santander | Semi finalist |
| 1984 | Silvia Maritza Yunda Charry | Huila | |
| 1985 | Maria Pia Duque Rengifo | Huila | Semi finalist |
| 1986 | Maria del Carmen Zapata Valencia | Antioquia | Semi finalist |
| 1987 | Michelle Betancourt Vergara | Atlantico | |
| 1988 | Adriana Maria Escobar Mejía | Caldas | Semi finalist |
| 1989 | Clelia Alexandra Ablanque Moreno | Valle | |
| 1990 | Elsa Victoria Rivera Botero | Caldas | |
| 1991 | Mónica Maria Escobar Freydell | Caldas | Semi finalist |
| 1992 | Lina Maria Marin Díaz | Risaralda | Semi finalist |
| 1993 | Kathy Sáenz Herrera | Bogotá | Semi finalist |
| 1994 | Alexandra Betancur Marín | Antioquia | Semi finalist |
| 1995 | Iovana Soraya Grisales Castañeda | Santander | Semi finalist |
| 1996 | Claudia Inés de Torcoroma Mendoza Lemus | Norte de Santander | 2nd runner-up |
| 1997 | Ingrid Catherine Náder Haupt | Atlantico | Semi finalist |
| 1998 | Adriana Hurtado Novella | Valle del Cauca | Semi finalist |
| 1999 | Paulina Margarita Gálvez Pineda | Nariño | Miss International |
| 2000 | Carolina Cruz Osorio | Valle del Cauca | Semi finalist |
| 2001 | Maria Rocio Stevenson Covo | Bolivar | Semi finalist |
| 2002 | Consuelo Guzman Parra | Valle del Cauca | |
| 2003 | Isabel Sofia Cabrales Baquero | Cartagena | |
| 2004 | Jeymmy Paola Vargas Gómez | Cartagena | Miss International |
| 2005 | Diana Patricia Arbeláez | Valle del Cauca | Semi finalist |
| 2006 | Karina Guerra Rodríguez | Choco | Semi finalist |
| 2007 | Ana Milena Lamus Rodríguez | Guajira | |
| 2008 | Maria Cristina Diaz-Granados | Bogotá | |
| 2009 | TBA | TBA |
Controversies and Criticism
The pageant has had its share of controversies, ranging from involvement of the country's powerful drug lords (who opulently sponsored many delegates in the early nineties) to allegations of racism.
Beauty versus Poverty
Colombia has the distinction of being one of a select few countries where taxpayer money is actually spent on the pageant: some departmental governments will actually fund their individual contestants, pageants, or even appoint their representatives to the pageant.
The fact that each regional government donates a very high sum of money to something apparently useless for a country that has more relevant poverty problems.
Feminism
Feminist groups and advocates also criticize the way women are portrayed in the media, and the sole purpose of an event like this would benefit women at all.
Stand against Plastic Surgery
Raimundo Angulo owner of the Señorita Colombia/Miss Colombia Universe franchise has encouraged pageant hopefuls to refrain from indulging in too much plastic surgery, in an effort to emphasize the importance of natural beauty to young women. Many Colombians were still surprised with the controversial selection of Miss Colombia 2007 Eileen Roca Torralvo, who, while allegedly free of any plastic surgery, had not been a media favorite to win the crown.
David Letterman on Miss Colombia
In May 2001, David Letterman joked about the 'special talent' which the then-reigning Miss Colombia Andrea Noceti possessed - that she was able to "swallow 50 balloons full of heroin" for the (non existent) talent competition in the Miss Universe 2001 pageant. The remark not only infuriated the beauty queen, but also the people in Colombia. [1]
Miss Colombia openly threatened to sue Letterman but later withdrawn the statement after Letterman formally apologised to her in The Late Show with David Letterman about the quip made. Letterman had invited the beauty queen to appear on his show as a gesture of appeasement. [2]
Involvement of Drug Lords
The involvement of the drug lords became evident when a number of delegates later married their sponsors.
- Miss Choco (1996) Zolima Bechara was disqualified as first runner up (who was to attend Miss International) when she visited a drug lord in jail.
- Miss Atlantico Maribel Gutiérrez Tinoco who went on to win the Miss Colombia 1990 crown famously stepped down (after her participation in Miss Universe 1991, where she won the Best National Costume Award) to marry "El Mico" Duran, who was later murdered.
Racism
In 2001, Vanessa Mendoza of Choco won the pageant, becoming the first black woman to do so and setting off an immense debate over the country's treatment of its black minorities. A living "Cinderella" who came from abject poverty, she received numerous awards for her humanitarian work, including a postage stamp issued in her honor (rarely accorded to living celebrities, among them Gabriel Garcia Marquez) and government assistance for her home province, one of the country's poorest. Despite being the massive favorite of Latin American papers to win the Miss Universe 2002 pageant, she did not place.
Nude Pictorial of Delegates
A number of candidates have been removed as delegates at the departmental (state) level because they have been featured in advertising for underwear or in various states of undress.
In 2005 the pageant was rocked by a scandal when Miss Bogotá (the representative of the country's capital) who was chosen through a reality television show, was revealed to have posed with a naked torso (her arms covering her breasts) and exposed buttocks (in a thong) for a health magazine (Salud). She was disqualified by the president of the Concurso Nacional de Belleza (which is a non-profit but private corporation) and the first runner up was also unable to go because she could not prove the 10-year residency requirement.[3]
Stung by their removal from the pageant, a number of media in Bogotá attempted to create a scandal over pictures of then-Miss Atlantico Valerie Dominguez who was alleged to have posed in her underwear for a supplement of her hometown newspaper. The committee looked at the pictures and confirmed they were indeed swimwear and she remained in the pageant. She went on to win the Figura Bodytech prize and then the Miss Colombia crown (2005-2006).
External links
- Official site: Concurso Nacional de Belleza - srtacolombia.org
- Pageantopolis.com: Lists of Miss Colombia Universe Delegates and Placements
- Pageantopolis.com: Lists of Miss Colombia International Delegates and Placements