Colombia has its representative for the 2026 edition of Miss Universe. Maria Alejandra Lopez Perez, representing the department of Risaralda, was crowned Miss Universe Colombia 2026 during a ceremony held on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Salon Jumbo of the Country Club in Barranquilla. With this result, Lopez Perez will represent the country at the 75th edition of the international pageant, scheduled for Nov. 24 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Lopez Perez’s selection came after several days of preliminary activities and a competition that brought together contestants from different regions of Colombia. The Risaralda representative prevailed in the final round against contestants from Medellin, Antioquia, Valle del Cauca and the Andean Region, earning the national crown and the opportunity to return to an international stage where she already has experience.
Who is Maria Alejandra Lopez Perez, the new Miss Universe Colombia 2026?
Maria Alejandra Lopez Perez was born in Pereira, Risaralda, on Sept. 2, 1994. She is 32 years old and holds a degree in industrial engineering from Sergio Arboleda University in Bogota. In addition to her academic background, she speaks Spanish, English, and French, skills that may prove useful during the preparation activities and interviews that are part of an international competition such as Miss Universe.
Her profile combines professional development with extensive participation in beauty pageants. Unlike other contestants who are entering an international competition for the first time, Lopez Perez has competed in various national and international events for more than 13 years. This experience has allowed her to become familiar with the demands of runway presentations, question-and-answer rounds, and public appearances that characterize these competitions.
A pageant career that began in 2013
Lopez Perez’s beauty pageant career began in 2013, when she represented Risaralda at the National Beauty Pageant, held in Cartagena. On that occasion, she earned the title of first princess, an achievement that marked the beginning of her recognition in Colombia’s pageant circuit. That same year, she traveled to Bolivia and won Reina Hispanoamericana, one of her first international victories.
Two years later, in 2015, she was crowned Miss World Colombia, earning the opportunity to compete in the international Miss World pageant. Her journey continued in 2021, when she once again competed for Colombia’s national representation at Miss Universe Colombia and finished as the first runner-up. Although she did not win the crown that year, she remained active in the pageant circuit.
Another significant achievement came in 2023, when she represented Colombia at Miss Grand International, held in Vietnam, where she finished as the second runner-up. This participation strengthened her international experience and kept her involved in global competitions before her return to Miss Universe Colombia in 2026.
The awards she received during the 2026 competition
Before the final gala, Lopez Perez had already received distinctions during the pageant’s preliminary activities. On Oct. 7, she won Miss Figura Bodytech, a competition related to physical fitness and dance, in which she outperformed the representatives of Atlantico and Caldas, who placed second and third, respectively.
Later, on Oct. 9, she received the Miss Bulova Time award, recognizing her performance and elegance on the runway. These distinctions added to the attention she had attracted throughout the pageant and positioned her as one of the standout contestants heading into the final event.
During the coronation ceremony, the contestants took part in the competition’s traditional presentations, including swimsuit and evening gown segments, as well as question-and-answer rounds. After the finalists were selected, the decision came down to Lopez Perez and Marly Yulied Velasquez Marii, representing Medellin. Ultimately, the judges awarded the national title to the contestant from Risaralda.