After their embarrassing loss last year, Colombia representative in the Miss Universe 2016 is one of the early favorites in the competition based on her looks.
Andrea Tovar Velasquez will represent Colombia at Miss Universe 2016 happening in Manila, Philippines by the end of this month. She won the prestigious title in her country.
Tovar is the daughter of physician Antonio Tovar and business manager Xenia Rosa Velásquez. She is currently studying Industrial Design and Photographic Image Production at the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in Bogotá.
She was crowned Miss Chocó in 2014, but as another contestant was selected in a different pageant to represent the same department, she had to postpone her participation in the national pageant until 2015. She will be the Miss Colombia with the longest time in holding the crown, she will be Miss Colombia for 16 months and 4 days. On November 16, 2015, during the final telecast Andrea was crowned Miss Colombia 2015, becoming the second black Miss Colombia from Chocó to win the crown after Vanessa Mendoza in 2001. She will represent Colombia at Miss Universe 2016.
Andrea has large shoes to fill since Paulina Vega won the title in 2014 and Ariadna Gutierrez almost won against the current Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach. Colombia is one of the contenders to watch out for in beauty pageants.
There is an unspoken rivalry between Colombia and Philippines. The rivalry began last year when host Steve Harvey announced Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner by mistake. Colombia and Philippines are both strong contenders in major beauty pageants. Their representatives are some of the candidates to watch out for.
The 65th Miss Universe pageant will be held in Manila, Philippines on January 30.