Recommended Video
Miss Grand International All Stars promised to be the redemption stage for queens to have another shot at winning a crown. So, it feels fitting then that the title for the first-ever winner of MGl All Stars went to a veteran who’s on her third try at an international pageant.
Among the 56 delegates who competed this year, the historic title went to 34-year-old Vanessa Pulgarín, who has long been seen as a strong contender and bested dozens of veterans for the win. She isn’t just leaving Thailand as the first-ever winner of the competition, but is also living proof that setbacks shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your goals, because your opportunity is still to come. Also, if you haven’t noticed it yet, Vanessa looks a lot like Max Collins, with the actress herself getting in on the joke and poking fun at the resemblence following the coronation night.
Get to know more about the queen below.
RELATED: From Earth to the Universe: 7 Things To Know About Bea Millan-Windorski
She’s From Colombia
Vanessa Pulgarin continues the tradition of Latin American queens not only being strong contenders in pageants, but also frequently taking home crowns. She hails from Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia, in the northwestern part of the country, where she was born and raised. She was born on September 13, 1991, making Vanessa a Virgo.
She Has a Background in Journalism and Modeling
Before she entered pageantry, Vanessa had an interesting upbringing and life experiences. She took up Social Communication and Journalism at the Pontifical Bolivarian University. Vanessa was also at one point a model and even lived in Australia for a few years for her modeling work. She’s had years of experience in photoshoots and walking runways, skills that would serve her well when she competed in pageants.
Her First International Pageant Was in Miss International
Vanessa’s first foray into national pageantry came when she competed in Señorita Colombia 2017 as the reigning titleholder of Miss Antioquia 2016. There, she made it all the way to first runner-up, losing the crown to Laura González of Cartagena. If that name sounds familiar, that’s because Laura would go on to represent Colombia in Miss Universe 2017, ultimately finishing as first runner-up behind Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa. Vanessa’s pageant journey wasn’t over, however. She was appointed to be Colombia’s representative at Miss International 2017, where she didn’t move on to the semifinals. Still, the competition marked her first try at an international pageant.
She’s a Former Miss Universe Contestant
When the Miss Universe Organization dropped its age requirement rule a few years ago, the move opened the doors for queens who fell out of the age range to compete once more. One such queen is Vanessa, who, after an eight-year hiatus, returned to pageants by competing at Miss Universe Colombia 2025 at 33 years old. She went on to win the title and represent the country at Miss Universe 2025. For her first Miss Universe competition and second international pageant, Vanessa finished her run in the Top 12. But as they say, the third time’s the charm, and it would be a year later that she finally got her first major international crown.
She’ll Compete in MGI All Stars Again
Becoming the first winner of Miss Grand International All Stars is an achievement in itself. But this won’t be the last time you’ll see Vanessa compete. That is because MGI All Stars has a unique rule where a reigning titleholder must defend their crown in three consecutive competitions to claim the top prize of $1 million. Once a queen successfully does so, they will no longer be allowed to participate in All Stars.
This means that Vanessa will compete in the next edition of MGI All Stars, where she is guaranteed a spot in the Top 18, and if she wins again, she’ll have to do so one more time. It goes without saying that pageant fans will be seeing a lot more of Vanessa Pulgarin over the next couple of years.
Featured Image and Photos: MISS GRAND INTERNATIONAL (via Instagram), VANESSA PULGARIN (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
Her victory is historic because she is the first-ever winner of the inaugural Miss Grand International All Stars competition, a redemption stage specifically designed for pageant veterans. At 34 years old, the Colombian queen bested 55 other seasoned delegates to capture the crown on her third attempt at a major international title. Her win serves as a high-profile testament to resilience in the pageantry industry, proving that career setbacks and age limit changes can pave the way for major international success.
Before committing fully to the international pageant circuit, she earned a degree in Social Communication and Journalism from the Pontifical Bolivarian University in Colombia. In tandem with her academic pursuits, she built a successful career as a professional fashion model. This modeling career eventually took her to Australia, where she lived and worked for several years, allowing her to master runway mechanics, editorial posing, and camera placement long before stepping onto a pageant stage.
Her international pageant career began when she placed as the first runner-up at Señorita Colombia 2017, losing the main title to Laura González, who later became the first runner-up at Miss Universe 2017. Vanessa was subsequently appointed Miss International Colombia 2017 but failed to place in the semifinals at the global competition. After an eight-year hiatus, she capitalized on the removal of pageant age limits to compete in Miss Universe Colombia 2025, winning the title at age 33 and ultimately placing in the Top 12 at Miss Universe 2025.
Unlike traditional beauty pageants where a winner crowns her successor and retires from the competition, MGI All Stars features a unique format where the reigning titleholder must return to actively defend her crown. The organization dictates that a queen must successfully win three consecutive editions of the pageant to retire and claim the ultimate grand prize of $1 million. Due to this rule, Vanessa is locked into the next edition with a guaranteed spot in the Top 18, where she must fight to keep her title alive.
The most frequent mistake casual fans make is assuming that contestants in their mid-30s are at a severe disadvantage compared to younger rookies or that their previous unplaced runs define their competitive peak. In reality, veteran queens bring a highly polished level of stage presence, media training, and emotional maturity that younger contestants often struggle to match. Dismissing a delegate based on traditional age standards overlooks how modern rule changes have transformed pageantry into a space where long-term experience and refined stagecraft are major competitive advantages.
Latest Posts
Latest Issue
