He National Beauty Contest of Colombia (CNB) returned to Cartagena for its long-awaited 2024 edition, after a year of recess. Last Sunday, November 10, at the Julio César Turbay Ayala Convention Center, Catherine Duke representative of Antioquia, was crowned as the new Miss Colombia exciting the attendees and filling their department with pride, which had not obtained the title since 1996.
However, after the coronation, a question began to circulate on social networks: Why won’t Catalina Duque go to Miss Universe 2024 ? The answer goes back to a change in the Miss Universe franchise in Colombia, which left the CNB organization without the rights to send its queen to the most prestigious pageant in the world. The explanation has sparked great interest and debate about the impact of this change on the country’s beauty pageants.
Why won’t Miss Colombia 2024 Catalina Duque go to Miss Universe?
The absence of Catalina Duque in Miss Universe 2024 is not due to lack of merit, but to an administrative decision that changed the course of Colombian representation in the world pageant. Since 2020, the National Beauty Contest, led by Raimundo Angulo, lost the Miss Universe franchise. Businesswoman Natalie Ackermann acquired the rights to the Miss Universe franchise in Colombia upon realizing that the CNB did not formally own the license. According to Ackermann, the purchasing process was legitimate and open, allowing interested parties to purchase the license and organize their own contest.
This change surprised Raimundo Angulo, who tried to take legal action to recover the rights, although without success. Since then, Miss Universe Colombia, created by Ackermann, became the official event in charge of selecting and sending the Colombian representative to the international pageant. This situation left the CNB with the tradition of crowning Miss Colombia, but without the possibility of sending her to Miss Universe.
Catalina Duque was proclaimed Miss Colombia 2024 last Sunday, November 10. Photo: The 40s
What competition did Catalina Duque qualify for by winning Señorita Colombia 2024?
Although Catalina Duque will not be able to represent Colombia in Miss Universe 2024, her reign as Miss Colombia has given her the opportunity to qualify for another important international beauty pageant: Miss International. Duque, 25 years old and a social communicator by profession, will wear the Colombian sash in the 2025 edition of Miss International, which will be held in Tokyo, Japan. This contest, considered the second most relevant globally, focuses on promoting peace and understanding between nations, a mission that Duque will embrace with enthusiasm.
Miss International 2025 will be Duque’s first experience on a global competition stage, allowing her to represent the country and highlight her talent and commitment. The CNB chose this option after in 2022 the Colombian organization also sent one of its candidates, Juanita Urrea, to Miss International due to the absence of an edition of Miss Universe for Señorita Colombia. This path opens an opportunity for Duque to gain global recognition and continue the legacy of Colombian queens in other high-prestige beauty pageants.
Who will represent Colombia in Miss Universe 2024?
In the next edition of Miss Universe 2024, which will be held on Saturday, November 16 in Mexico City, Colombia will be represented by Daniela Toloza, who won the title of Miss Universe Colombia. Since Miss Universe Colombia assumed the rights to the franchise in 2020, five queens have represented Colombia in Miss Universe, including Laura Olascuaga, Valeria Ayos and María Fernanda Aristizábal, the latter originally crowned at the CNB but without participating in Miss Universe due to to the franchise controversy.
Toloza has the challenge of standing out on an international stage, following in the wake of great figures such as Paulina Vega and Luz Marina Zuluaga, the only Colombians to win the Miss Universe crown. In addition, this year’s edition will have the special participation of Fariana, a Colombian singer, on the jury panel, who will evaluate the candidates on issues of social impact and humanitarian causes, reflecting Miss Universe’s commitment to social issues.
According to the opinion of several experts, Daniela has a good chance of winning the Miss Universe title. Photo: The FM
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