Miss Colombia
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Miss Colombia is officially known as the Concurso Nacional de Belleza of Colombia, namely the National Contest of Beauty. 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.
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[edit] 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 second at the Miss Valle pageant before she won there and 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 Atlantico (9), Valle (8), Santander (7), Antioquia (6).
[edit] 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.
Interestingly, since the prize was handed out four years ago, (2002; Diana Lucia Mantilla, 2003; Catherine Daza Manchola, 2004; Adriana Tarud and 2005 Valerie Dominguez Tarud) the winner of the Bodytech Figure prize has gone on to win Miss Colombia. There are also prizes for the contestant with the best hair (Silueta Schwarzkopff brand), the most photogenic candidate (Kodak), the most punctual (who receives a Movado watch), most beautiful costume, and even the mothers of the delegates must compete in a talent show to select the "Queen Mother."
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
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).
[edit] 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 compeition 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]
[edit] Beauty versus Poverty
Colombia has the distinction of being one of a select few countries where taxpayer dollars are 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.
[edit] Feminism
Feminist groups and advocates also criticize the way women are potrayed in the media, and the sole purpose of an event like this would benefit women at all.
[edit] Stand against Plastic Surgery
Raimundo Angulo owner of Señorita Colombia Franchise has stated that in the future, pageants will not allow entry of candidates with too much plastic surgery.
This is to emphasise the importance of natural beauty to young women. Many Colombians have stated that Miss Colombia 2007 Eileen Roca is the perfect example to future crown hopefuls.
[edit] 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, 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.
[edit] 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:
- School children are given two weeks' holiday in Cartagena when the pageant arrives.
- 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.
- The winner traditionally confers with the President of Colombia several times during her reign
- The precious tortoise-shell scepter, gold ring and are carried with Miss Colombia at all times while she is in the country, and must be transferred by her hands to her successor in Cartagena.
[edit] Winners
The following is a list of women who have won the Miss Colombia title; note that in the 1950s. the pageant was a bi-annual event:
- 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)
- 1959 - Stella Márquez Zawdsky (Nariño)
- 1961 - Sonia Heidman Gómez (Bolívar)
- 1962 - Martha Ligia Restrepo González (Atlántico)
- 1963 - Leonor Duplat San Juan (Norte de Santander)
- 1964 - Martha Cecilia Calero Córdoba (Valle del Cauca)
- 1965 - Edna Margarita Rudd Lucena (Tolima)
- 1966 - Elsa Garrido Cajiao (Cauca)
- 1967 - Luz Elena Restrepo González (Atlántico)
- 1968 - Margarita María Reyes Zawdsky (Valle del Cauca)
- 1969 - María Luisa Riasco Velásquez (Antioquia)
- 1970 - Piedad Mejía Trujillo (Caldas)
- 1971 - María Luisa Lignarolo Martínez (Atlántico)
- 1972 - Ana Lucía Agudelo Correa (Valle del Cauca)
- 1973 - Ella Cecilia Escandón Palacios (Santander)
- 1974 - Martha Lucía Echeverry Trujillo (Valle del Cauca)
- 1975 - María Helena Reyes Abisambra (Bogotá)
- 1976 - Aura María Mojica Salcedo (Valle del Cauca)
- 1977 - Shirley Sáenz Starnes (Bogotá)
- 1978 - Ana Milena Parra Turbay (Santander)
- 1979 - María Patricia Arbeláez (Antioquia)
- 1980 - Nini Johanna Soto González (Santander)
- 1981 - María Teresa Gómez Fajardo (Antioquia)
- 1982 - Julie Pauline Sáenz Starnes (Bogotá)
- 1983 - Susana Caldas Lemaitre (Bolívar)
- 1984 - Sandra Borda Caldas (Bolívar)
- 1985 - María Mónica Urbina Plugiesse (Guajira)
- 1986 - Patricia López Ruíz (Antioquia)
- 1987 - Diana Patricia Arévalo Guerra (Santander)
- 1988 - María Teresa Eugorrola Hinojosa (Guajira)
- 1989 - Lizeth Yamile Mahecha Arévalo (Atlántico)
- 1990 - Maribel Gutiérrez Tinoco (Atlántico)
- 1991 - Paola Turbay Gómez (Bogotá)
- 1992 - Paula Andrea Betancur Arroyave (Amazonas)
- 1993 - Carolina Gómez Correa (Bogotá)
- 1994 - Tatiana Castro Abuchaibe (Cesar)
- 1995 - Lina María Gaviria Forero (Meta)
- 1996 - Claudia Elena Vásquez Ángel (Antioquia)
- 1997 - Silvia Fernanda Ortiz Guerra (Santander)
- 1998 - Marianella Maal Paccini (Atlántico)
- 1999 - Catalina Inés Acosta Albarracín (Cundinamarca)
- 2000 - Andrea María Noceti Gómez (Cartagena)
- 2001 - Vanessa Alexandra Mendoza Bustos (Chocó)
- 2002 - Diana Lucia Mantilla Prada (Santander)
- 2003 - Catherine Daza Manchola (Valle del Cauca)
- 2004 - Adriana Cecilia Tarud Durán (Atlántico)
- 2005 - Valerie Domínguez Tarud (Atlántico)
- 2006 - Eileen Roca Torralvo (Cesar)
| Department | Number of titles |
|---|---|
| Atlántico | 9 |
| Valle del Cauca | 8 |
| Santander | 7 |
| Antioquia | 6 |
| Bogotá | 5 |
| Bolívar | 5 |
| Cesar | 2 |
| Guajira | 2 |
| Amazonas | 1 |
| Caldas | 1 |
| Cartagena | 1 |
| Cauca | 1 |
| Cundinamarca | 1 |
| Meta | 1 |
| Nariño | 1 |
| Norte de Santander | 1 |
| Tolima | 1 |
[edit] Colombian representatives at Miss Universe
- 1958 - Luz Marina Zuluaga - Miss Universe
- 1959 - Olga Beatriz Pumarejo Korkor - Semi finalist
- 1960 - Stella Márquez Zawadski - Semi finalist
- 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 - Semi finalist
- 1966 - Edna Margarita Rudd Lucena - Semi finalist
- 1967 - Elsa Maria Garrido Cajiao
- 1968 - Luz Elena Restrepo González
- 1969 - Margarita Maria Reyes Zawadsky - Semi finalist
- 1970 - Maria Luisa Riascos Velásquez
- 1971 - Piedad Mejía Trujillo
- 1972 - Maria Luisa Lignarolo Martínez-Aparicio
- 1973 - Ana Lucía Agudelo Correa - Semi finalist
- 1974 - Ella Cecilia Escandón Palacios - 3rd runner-up
- 1975 - Martha Lucía Echeverri Trujillo - Semi finalist
- 1976 - Maria Helena Reyes Abisambra - Semi finalist
- 1977 - Aura Maria Mojica Salcedo - 3rd runner-up
- 1978 - Mary Shirley Sáenz Starnes - 3rd runner-up
- 1979 - Ana Milena Parra Turbay
- 1980 - Maria Patricia Arbeláez Peláez - Semi finalist
- 1981 - Ana Edilma (Eddy) Cano Puerta
- 1982 - Nadya Santacruz Quintero
- 1983 - Julie Pauline Sáenz Starnes
- 1984 - Susana Caldas Lemaitre - 4th runner-up
- 1985 - Sandra Eugenia Borda Caldas
- 1986 - Maria Mónica Urbina Pugliesse - 2nd runner-up
- 1987 - Maria Patricia López Ruiz
- 1988 - Diana Patricia Arévalo Guerra - Semi finalist
- 1989 - Maria Teresa Egurrola Hinojosa
- 1990 - Lizeth Yamil Mahecha Arévalo - 2nd runner-up
- 1991 - Maribel Judith Gutiérrez Tinoco
- 1992 - Paola Turbay Gómez - 1st runner-up
- 1993 - Paula Andrea Betancur Arroyave - 1st runner-up
- 1994 - Carolina Gómez Correa - 1st runner-up
- 1995 - Tatiana Leonor Castro Abuchaibe - Semi finalist
- 1996 - Lina Maria Gaviria Forero
- 1997 - Claudia Elena Vásquez Ángel
- 1998 - Silvia Fernanda Ortíz Guerra - Finalist (Top 5)
- 1999 - Marianella Maal Pacini
- 2000 - Catalina Inés Acosta Albarracín - Semi finalist
- 2001 - Andrea Maria Noceti Gómez
- 2002 - Vanessa Alexandra Mendoza Bustos
- 2003 - Diana Lucia Mantilla Prada
- 2004 - Catherine Daza Manchola - Finalist (Top 10)
- 2005 - Adriana Tarud Durán
- 2006 - Valerie Domínguez Tarud - Finalist (Top 10)
- 2007 - Eileen Roca Torralvo
[edit] Colombian representatives at Miss International
- 1960 - Maria Stella Márquez Zawadzky - Miss International
- 1961 - Vilma Kohlgruber Duque
- 1962 - Sonia Heidman Gómez
- 1963 - Martha Ligia Restrepo González - Semi finalist
- 1964 - Leonor Duplat Sanjuán
- 1965 - Regina Salcedo Herrera
- 1967 - Marta Lucia Guzmán Perdomo
- 1968 - Rosario Barraza Villa - Semi finalist
- 1969 - Laura Fabiola Pimiento Barrera
- 1971 - Patricia Escobar Rodríguez - Semi finalist
- 1972 - Lamia El Kouri Chaia - Semi finalist
- 1973 - Tulia Inés Gómez Porras - Semi finalist
- 1974 - Beatriz del Carmen Cajiao Velasco - Semi finalist
- 1975 - Alina Maria Botero López - Semi finalist
- 1976 - Alicia Sáenz Madrid - Semi finalist
- 1977 - Silvia Alicia Pombo Carrillo
- 1978 - Olga Lucia Prada Rodríguez
- 1979 - Ivonne Margarita Guerra de la Espriella
- 1980 - Ana Maria Uribe Giraldo - Semi finalist
- 1981 - Victoria Eugenia Cárdenas Gerlein - Semi finalist
- 1982 - Adriana Rumié Gomes-Cásseres - Semi finalist
- 1983 - Marta Liliana Ruiz Orduz - Semi finalist
- 1984 - Silvia Maritza Yunda Charry
- 1985 - Maria Pia Duque Rengifo - Semi finalist
- 1986 - Maria del Carmen Zapata Valencia - Semi finalist
- 1987 - Michelle Betancourt Vergara
- 1988 - Adriana Maria Escobar Mejía - Semi finalist
- 1989 - Clelia Alexandra Ablanque Moreno
- 1990 - Elsa Victoria Rivera Botero
- 1991 - Mónica Maria Escobar Freydell - Semi finalist
- 1992 - Lina Maria Marin Díaz - Semi finalist
- 1993 - Kathy Sáenz Herrera - Semi finalist
- 1994 - Alexandra Betancur Marín - Semi finalist
- 1995 - Iovana Soraya Grisales Castañeda - Semi finalist
- 1996 - Claudia Inés de Torcoroma Mendoza Lemus - 2nd runner-up
- 1997 - Ingrid Catherine Náder Haupt - Semi finalist
- 1998 - Adriana Hurtado Novella - Semi finalist
- 1999 - Paulina Margarita Gálvez Pineda - Miss International
- 2000 - Carolina Cruz Osorio - Semi finalist
- 2001 - Maria Rocio Stevenson Covo - Semi finalist
- 2002 - Consuelo Guzman Parra
- 2003 - Isabel Sofia Cabrales Baquero
- 2004 - Jeymmy Paola Vargas Gómez - Miss International
- 2005 - Diana Patricia Arbeláez - Semi finalist
- 2006 - Karina Guerra Rodríguez - Semi finalist
- 2007 - Ana Milena Lamus Rodríguez
