Paulina Vega Dieppa was crowned 2013’s Miss Colombia on Monday night in Cartagena, taking home the 11th overall title for the nearby coastal state of Altantico.
A native of Barranquilla, another Caribbean port city less than an hour’s drive from Cartagena, Vega won on top of a dominating 9.9 performance on both the ballroom and swimsuit competitions.
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Vega called the night “one of the happiest moments of [her] life,” and told a packed audience at the coronation ceremony and the massive TV audience following across Colombia, “I am your queen, and I am going to work for you and with you.”
Vega was one of five finalists heading into Monday night.
After the ballroom gown event and a brief musical presentation, the candidates were asked questions taken from social media sites.
Speaking on the virtues of Colombian women, Vega said that “aside from beauty, it’s that strong character that always characterizes us, and above all we are leaders […] We are women to be admired and an example to be followed, good mothers and professionals.”
Colombia’s Miss Universe contestant Lucia Aldana was on hand to award the crown, and drew a heavy applause from the audience.
Zuleika Suárez Torrenegra, from the coastal city of San Andres, won Vice-queen honors, and Miss Valle, Tania Valencia Cuero, was named Third Princess.
Sources
Paulina Vega Dieppa es la nueva Reina Nacional de Belleza (El Pais)
