Bolivar’s Laura Olascuaga crowned Miss Universe Colombia 2020 in Baranquilla

Representing Bolivar, Laura Victoria Olascuaga Pinto, 25, was crowned Miss Universe Colombia 2020 on November 16, 2020. She bested 29 other candidates.

Miss Universe Colombia 2020

Hosted by Valerie Domínguez, Sebastián Carvajal, Susy Mora and Diego Pascuas, the Miss Universe Colombia 2020 coronation night took place in Barranquilla, Colombia. It was the inaugural version of the new national beauty pageant that selects the official candidate of Colombia to Miss Universe.

RCN Television aired the event live. It featured performances by Maía, Felipe Peláez, Mr. Black, Bemba Colorá and Gaiteros de Pueblo Santo.

Runner-up to Olascuaga as Miss Universe Colombia 2020 was Jenifer Pulgarín Candelo, 25, of Norte de Santander. Laura Juliana Lamus Vargas, 23, of Santander was second runner-up.

Aside from winning the title, Olascuaga also won the special award Miss Elegancia Mariano. Lamus was awarded Mejor Rostro (Best Face).

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Señorita Colombia 1967 Luz Helena Restrepo served as judges. They were joined by Amalín de Hazbún, Natalia Barulich and Pilar Guzmán Lizarazo.

Colombia in Miss Universe

Hailing from Cartagena de Indias, Bolivar, Olascuaga competed at Señorita Colombia 2018. She finished first runner-up but she resigned.

The winner of Miss Colombia represented Colombia in Miss Universe. Its most recent winner was María Fernanda Aristizábal of Quindío, who was supposed to represent the country at Miss Universe 2020.

But in June 2020, Natalie Ackermann gained ownership of the Colombian franchise to Miss Universe and decided to hold Miss Universe Colombia 2020. Aristizabal and Olascuaga will represent Colombia at Miss International 2021 and Miss Universe 2020, respectively.

Olascuaga graduated from the Universedad del Norte in Barranquilla with a bachelor’s degree in social communication and journalism. She enjoys boxing and loves to play the violin. If she wins Miss Universe 2020, she will be the beauty pageant’s third titleholder from Colombia.

Miss Universe 1958 Luz Marina Zuluaga, is from Colombia. Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega is also from the country.

In 2015, Vega crowned Ariadna Gutierrez of Colombia as Miss Universe 2015. Minutes later, the crown was taken away from Gutierrez and was given to Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines, the real winner.