25 beauties set for Miss Colombia 2011 (photos)

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Of Colombia’s 32 department, 25 were able to elect beauties to compete for the title of Miss Colombia 2011.

All contestants have been elected by to represent their departments in the past few months and will take part in Miss Colombia on November 14 in the coastal city of Cartagena. The winner will go on to compete in the most publicized beauty pageant in the world, the Miss Universe competition.

There were some slight problems; the Cordoba department was not able to elect a representative on time and Miss Cartagena was disqualified after she was linked to a Mexican drug trafficker.

Antioquia

Olivia Aristizabal Echeverri. This 22-year-old claims that her “strong personality” and “sculpted legs” are her two best assets. She’s not only a cutie, but also a smartie: Echeverri is currently studying international law and diplomacy at Medellin’s University CES. Oh, and for the gringos who can’t speak Spanish, Echeverri is also fluent in English.

Arauca

Gina Valentina Diaz Mantilla. A lawyer, an orthodontist, and a journalist all walk into a beauty pageant…..and elect Gina Valentina Diaz as the most beautiful woman in Arauca.

Atlantico

Daniella Alvarez Vasquez. The once retired 2010 Miss Bolivar has returned, as per fans requests, for a shot at the title of Miss Colombia. She is currently wrapping up her post graduate studies in human rights and development at the University of Northern Barranquilla. Want to study with me?

Bolivar

Rossana Fortich Gonzalez. Miss Bolivar’s goal is to raise Colombia’s awareness about the effects of the rainy season in her department. “For me the most important work for our department is the social side, especially in these moments that we are so affected by the rainy season,” she explained. Heart of gold.

Bogota

Ana Melissa Cano Rey. She refers to herself as “la nina disciplina,” or disciplined woman. Rey is learning to balance her time between preparations for the Miss Colombia pageant and her studies in marketing and advertising. According to Miss Bogota, “you can do anything, and do it well, if you do it with discipline.” I’ve been a bad boy, discipline me, please!

Boyaca

Lina Maria Gallego Bejarano. Miss Boyaca was a high school cheerleader and currently studies business. She measures 89-62-92 and is 5’11 tall. Lina Maria is a fanatic basketball player.

Caldas

Valentina Muñoz Escobar. The “queen of the coffee region” was also elected as queen of the most imporant cultural event in her department, La Feria de las Manizales. But when Escobar failed to show up on the morning of the parade because she was “feeling ill,” locals began to question her commitment to their department. And they said that beauty queens are to be “exemplars of their culture”….

Caqueta

Lizeth Mendieta Villanueva. This woman is a thoroughbred of the modeling and beauty world. Villanueva has won the “Supermodelo Colombia” in 2008, worked with various modeling agencies, and even acted in commercials and telenovelas.

Cartagena

The original Miss Cartagena 2011, Laura Cantillo, was disqualified from the national beauty pageant because of her alleged ties to a jailed Mexican druglord.

Cauca

Jennifer Martínez Martinez. Former winner of Cartagena Look 2007 and total babe, Martinez hopes her “charisma, angelic face, and runway experience” will help her win the Miss Colombia pageant.

Cesar

Maria Laura Quintero is not just pretty. She studies Financial Administration, Government and International Relations. She measures 89-62-92, has dark-brown hair and told local media that her aim is to promote the traditions and culture from the northern department.

Choco

Yesica Paola Montoya Valencia. This chocoano will represent her coastal town with pride at the 2011 Miss Colombia pageant in Cartagena. In my opinion, the negra has the best skin and smile in this year’s competition.

Cundinamarca

Thael Osorio. This 22-year old “flaca” will win the hearts of men who love the tall, skinny type. She’s 5’8″ tall and measures 85-60-90. According to the Cundinamarca jury, it was her confidence and glamour that made her beat the other eight candidates of her department.

Hulia

Daniela Villaveces Diaz. Diaz wasn’t as successful in her first attempt at the title of Miss Hulia. But after a year of grooming from various coaches and trainers, Diaz feels well prepared for her shot at the big one, Miss Colombia. “I’m a persistent person,” explained Diaz.

La Guajira

Vanessa Carolina Choles Vida. She’s currently in her seventh semester as a civil engineer at Bogota’s Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Build me a love shack!

Magdalena

Melissa Varon Ballesteros. Miss Magdalena is a chemist who “feels responsible for the growth and development of society.” Create the next love potion, and I think the whole world will thank you.

Meta

Sara Daniela Villarreal Pineda. The 18-year-old from the departmental capital of Villavicencio is one of the younger competitors in this years group. Sara Daniela measures 90-62-90 and is 5’7″ tall.

Nariño

Catalina Lasso. Representative of Colombia’s most south-eastern department. Catalina was born in Pasto and studies international business in Medellin. The southern beauty measures 92-60-92.

Norte de Santander

María Alejandra Osorio Chavez. In recent interviews, Miss Norte de Santander has been a little nervous and fidgety. Looks like those “numerous publicity classes” your family paid for aren’t helping out.

Quindio

Estefania Diaz Granados Gallo. A newcomer to the pageant circuit, the 20-year old business administration student from Armenia will really need to show off her assets in Cartagena.

Risaralda

Tatiana Angel Ilian. For the men who have to sneak out of the house to play golf on the weekends, this is the woman for you. This “birdy’s” favorite sport is golf, which she plays on a regular basis. Schwwiing!

San Andres and Providencia

Cindy Lane May Escalona. She’s got a million dollar smile, and a wealthy former congressman as a father. News broke when judges came forward and alleged that Miss San Andres’ father paid for her spot. Scandalous!

Santander

Andrea Liseth Tavera Sanabria. In an interview with Vanguardia magazine, the recently elected 2011 Miss Santander describes herself as having a “cute face, a harmonious body, and an inner beauty that allows [her] to be charismatic, cheerful, full of good values and empathy.”

Sucre

Elena Sofia Fadul Bolaños. Elegant. Tall. 100% Colombian fox. And for the southern readers, this lady is the closest thing you’ll find to a southern bell. After studying at Texas Christian University, she returned to Colombia speaking english with a southern twang. Hey Elena, save a horse, ride a cowboy.

Tolima

Piedad Alexandra Herrera Avendaño. Miss Tolima credits her department for “teaching [Avendaño] to become a model.” Too bad your department has only won one Miss Colombia title, and it was in 1965. Wack.

Valle del Cauca

Melina Ramírez Serna. One word: STUNNER. Local blogs have voted this year’s Miss Valle as the most likely to take the title this year. The current Miss Colombia, Maria Catalina Robayo Vargas, has also taken Melina under her wing and is grooming Miss Valle to be her successor. The department of Valle del Cauca is currently tied with the department of Atlantico for the most number of Miss Colombia titleholders in the history of the pageant.