Colombia’s capital begins the rigorous selection process for Miss Bogota 2012, with the winner going on to represent the region in the national Miss Colombia contest later this year.
The open call for Miss Bogota 2012 contestants runs until March 10, with registration open to all aspiring beauty-queens, who must submit photos or videos demonstrating their “charisma and beauty” according to newspaper El Universal.
In an interview with Colombia Reports Nelson Rodriguez — head of Bogota’s Casting Models, who are coordinating the competition — explained how these initial entries will be be whittled down to six final contestants, who will go head to head in the final in Bogota on March 20.
At this event a panel of three judges, including fashion designer Alfredo Barraza, will crown the winning Miss Bogota 2012, at a glitzy ceremony attended by fashion and beauty industry insiders, and televised to the adoring public.
Since 1999, Bogota’s CityTV has been running a reality show following the hopefuls in their quest to be chosen to represent the capital in the national pageant.
Bogota’s regional contest is among the first in almost a year of country-wide contests, with winners from across Colombia going on to battle it out at the national Miss Colombia pageant in November, held in Cartagena annually since 1934.
Colombia’s love affair with beauty pageants is unrivalled even in Latin America, where the hugely popular events are a national pastime. The most celebrated pageants, alongside the annual Miss Colombia, include Barranquilla’s Carnival Queen, the coffee region’s International Coffee Queen, Cali‘s Sugar Cane Queen and, in a break from tradition, Antioquia’s Ugly Pageant, “Slapface.”