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[[Image:TalianaVargas.jpg|right|thumb|'''Señorita Colombia 2008''' '''Taliana Maria Vargas Carrillo''', [[Miss Universe]] first runner-up 2008]]
[[Image:TalianaVargas.jpg|right|thumb|'''Señorita Colombia 2008''' '''Taliana Maria Vargas Carrillo''', [[Miss Universe]] first runner-up 2008]]
<!-- [[Image:EileenRocaT.jpg|right|thumb|'''Eileen Roca Torralvo, Señorita Colombia 2007''' who competed as Señorita [[Cesar Department|Cesar]]]] -->
<!-- [[Image:EileenRocaT.jpg|right|thumb|'''Eileen Roca Torralvo, Señorita Colombia 2007''' who competed as Señorita [[Cesar Department|Cesar]]]] -->
[[Miss Colombia]] is officially known as the ''Concurso Nacional de Belleza de [[Colombia]]'', (''National Beauty Contest''.) It is the most significant [[beauty pageant|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]].
[[Miss Colombia]] is officially known as the ''Concurso Nacional de Belleza de [[Colombia]]'', (''National Beauty Contest''.) It is the most significant [[beauty pageant|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, Colombia|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.
The Miss Colombia pageant is one of the most important cultural events in the country, held annually in the city of [[Cartagena, Colombia|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.

Revision as of 00:38, 28 July 2008

File:TalianaVargas.jpg
Señorita Colombia 2008 Taliana Maria Vargas Carrillo, Miss Universe first runner-up 2008

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 (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."

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

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 DT y C 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 DT y C
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 DT y C
2004 Jeymmy Paola Vargas Gómez Cartagena DT y C 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).

References and footnotes