Miss Colombia

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Miss Colombia 2006 - 2007 Eileen Roca Torralvo, who competed as Miss Cesar

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.

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 fouth 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.

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 but in 2006 pageant Miss Antioquia winner of Figura Bodytech become the third runner up. 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."

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.

Involvement of Drug Lords

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Maribel Gutiérrez Tinoco's preliminary scores during the Miss Universe 1991 pageant. She was unplaced in the contest.

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

File:Vannesa Alexandra Mendoza Bustos-MissColombia-headshot.jpg

Miss Colombia 2001 - 2002 Vannesa Alexandra Mendoza remains the only black woman to ever win the pageant

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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, who, while allegedly free of any plastic surgery, had not been a media favorite to win the crown.

International participation

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Luz Marina Zuluaga, remains the country's only Miss Universe 1958

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.

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.

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)
• 1958 - Luz Marina Zuluaga (Miss Universe)
• 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)

Colombian representatives at Miss Universe

Year	Titleholder	State title	Miss Universe placing
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	Martha 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 Ángel	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 Noceti 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	TBA	TBA

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 - 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

External links

• Official site