María Alejandra López Pérez is officially Miss Universe Colombia 2026, and her journey to the crown is anything but ordinary. The 32-year-old industrial engineer, model, and experienced beauty queen was crowned on Saturday, October 10, 2026, during a glamorous ceremony at the Country Club in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Representing the department of Risaralda, López emerged victorious after competing against contestants from across the country. Her win comes after 13 years of participating in national and international beauty competitions, proving that her pageant ambitions were far from over.
© Miss Universe ColombiaShe will now represent Colombia at the 75th Miss Universe competition, scheduled for November 24, 2026, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Who Is María Alejandra López, Miss Colombia 2026 Winner?
Born on September 2, 1994, in Pereira, Colombia, María Alejandra López Pérez is more than an experienced pageant contestant. She holds a degree in industrial engineering from Universidad Sergio Arboleda in Bogotá and speaks three languages: Spanish, English, and French.
According to Colombian media reports, López spent part of her childhood in Florida, United States, where she developed her English-language skills.
© Miss Universe ColombiaHer educational background and international pageant experience have helped shape her public profile. Unlike many first-time contestants, López entered the 2026 competition with years of experience performing onstage, answering judges' questions, and representing Colombia internationally.
María Alejandra López Finally Wins After 13 Years of Pageants
One of the most interesting details about the Miss Colombia 2026 winner is how long she worked toward this achievement.
López began competing in major beauty pageants in 2013, when she represented Risaralda at Colombia's Concurso Nacional de Belleza in Cartagena. She finished as first princess, an impressive result for a contestant beginning her national pageant career.
© Miss Universe ColombiaThat same year, she competed in Reina Hispanoamericana in Bolivia and won the international title.
Her career continued in 2015 when she was selected as Miss Mundo Colombia, earning the opportunity to represent her country at Miss World in China. In 2021, López returned to compete for the Miss Universe Colombia crown but finished as first runner-up behind Valeria Ayos.
Two years later, she represented Colombia at Miss Grand International 2023 in Vietnam, where she placed second runner-up.
© Miss Universe ColombiaBy the time she entered Miss Universe Colombia 2026, she had already built a pageant résumé that included national titles, international competitions, and several finalist placements.
This time, however, she walked away with the crown.
During the competition week, she had already received recognition through the Miss Figura Bodytech and Miss Bulova Time awards, further strengthening her position as a leading contestant.
What Did Miss Colombia 2026 Say After Winning?
Following her coronation, María Alejandra López shared an emotional message on social media reflecting on the experiences that led to her victory. She emphasized personal growth, gratitude, and the people who supported her throughout her career.
She also described the responsibility of representing Colombia internationally and expressed pride in carrying her country's flag onto the Miss Universe stage. “Today I am not only celebrating a crown, I am also celebrating every step that brought me here, every difficulty that made me stronger, and every person who believed in me even in the moments when I needed it most. 🤍
Thank God for allowing me to live this moment, to the Miss Universe Colombia organization for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to represent our country, and to every Colombian who accompanied me, supported me, and reminded me that I should never stop believing.
I receive this crown with a heart full of gratitude, with the responsibility of representing Colombia with my values, my essence, and everything that I am. Today a new stage begins, and I want to walk it hand in hand with you, carrying our flag with pride and demonstrating that behind a queen there is a story, a purpose, and an entire country that inspires her.
© Miss Universe ColombiaColombia, thank you for believing in me. This crown is also yours. 🇨🇴🤍 COLOMBIA, HERE IS YOUR QUEEN. 👑”
When and Where Is Miss Universe 2026?
María Alejandra López will compete against representatives from around the world for the international crown on November 24, 2026, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Colombia has previously won Miss Universe twice. Luz Marina Zuluaga became the country's first winner in 1958, while Paulina Vega earned its second title in 2014.
© Getty Images
© FilmMagicLópez will now attempt to become the third Colombian woman to win the prestigious international competition.
Her preparation for Puerto Rico will be especially important because the international event is scheduled just over six weeks after her national coronation.
