Image via Complex Original
Today, July 20th, marks the 201st anniversary of Colombia's independence from Spanish rule. Frustrated with their limited influence over their home country, the Colombian people rioted in protest of the unfair treatment. On July 20, 1810, specifically, a mob of Colombian citizens in Bogota, driven by an impassioned speech by leader José Acevedo y Gómez, surrounded the Viceroy ready to attack, forcing him to sign an act which permitted a local ruling council and eventually freedom.
Today, Colombians remember the victory with a sense of hope for a peaceful resolution to the violence and drug crimes that have continued to plague the country. They commemorate the day by celebrating their country's rich history, culture and people.
That's why, here in the states, we're recognizing the South American country's victory with our own tribute to their people; namely, their beautiful female population. If there's anything Colombians can always proudly laid claim to, it's their population of strikingly gorgeous ladies. Thus, let us celebrate the country's independence by saluting the 50 Hottest Colombian Women.
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50. Sara Jaramillo
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Model
Jaramillo hasn't been on our radar for long, but it's impossible to ignore her sexy SoHo magazine photoshoot. Given it took us until 2010 to discover her, we're wondering if Colombia is trying to keep their beautiful women all to themselves. How selfish!
49. Daniela Ramos
Hometown: Bogota
Occupation: Beauty queen
Previously a graphic design student, Ms. Ramos was chosen to be Miss World Colombia in 2009. Given her background, if she were to redesign our website, we would only have one suggestion: more pictures of her.
48. Natalia Villaveces
Hometown: Bogota
Occupation: Actress/model
Don't get too excited—Villaveces was in a show called Latin Lovers, but it's a Spanish soap opera, not, as we first hoped, a straight-to-DVD flick with little clothes involved.
47. Adriana Arboleda
Hometown: Cali
Occupation: Model/TV personality
Arboleda was once given the honor of being "Look of the Year," and she posed for magazine such as Vanity and Cosmopolitan. She also appeared in Yo soy Betty, la fea, the most popular telenova of all time, leading to an American remake, Ugly Betty.
46. Maria Cristina Diaz-Granados
Hometown: Valledupar
Occupation: Beauty queen/model
Repeating the name of this Miss Colombia International 2007-2008 winner calms us down. Maria Cristina Diaz-Granados leaves us soothed, with the knowledge that there's someone looking out for us, who wants to give us the gifts of gorgeous women with names that roll right off one's tongue. Innuendo intended.
45. Jeymmy Vargas
Hometown: Cartagena de Indias
Occupation: Beauty queen/model
Vargas was the third Colombian and the first black woman to win Miss International in 2004. Only the third to win? Based on this list of hotties, Colombian women must be overlooked, hence why they're not winning every year.
44. Katherine Medina
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Beauty queen
Ms. Medina represented Columbia during the Miss World 2008 competition in South Africa. "What's a fair representation of Colombia," you ask? Keep your Tony Montana impressions, drugs, and coffee, because Medina is all we want (unless she serves us the coffee).
43. Angie Valencia
Hometown: Barranquilla
Occupation: Beauty queen/model
As the leader of a global cocaine smuggling ring, Valencia takes the Colombian and model stereotype to a whole other Hollywood-blockbuster-worthy level. Has she ever considered acting? Or maybe a biopic?
42. Reina Moncada
Hometown: Norte de Santander
Occupation: DJ
DJ Reina Moncada may be the only Playmate who could make a decent playlist for boning. Not that we'd discourage other Playmates from making their own...as long we're there when it plays.
41. Amparo Grisales
Hometown: Manizales
Occupation: Actress
Grisales' telemundo show, Madre Luna, is about a beautiful woman with an amazing body hiding a secret: She's really a 50-year-old woman. Note to both Amparo and her chaarcter: Age is just a number, but we'll pay attention to the digits of your measurements, instead.
40. Laura Palacio
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Beauty queen
Last year, the citizens of Colombia were in the midst of several debates, as Juan Manuel Santos and Antanas Mockus fought for their position to be elected as the new president. Meanwhile, the world's citizens were also experiencing turmoil, as we could not explain how Miss Colombia 2010 Laura Palacio could be so damn hot.
39. Alexa Vega
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Occupation: Actress
From her Spy Kids roots to becoming one of the most notable American-born Colombian actresses today, Vega has come a relatively long way in her career. She's set to reprise her role as Carmen Cortez in the fourth Spy Kids movie this year. Sure, we'll go see it, then.
38. Sonia Uribe
Hometown: Bogota
Occupation: Journalist/TV personality
Sonia doesn't only possess impeccable beauty, but intelligence to match, as well. She's a Colombian/American journalist, hosting her own TV series, dubbed The Sonia Uribe Files. Oh, what a coincidence! We also have our own Sonia Uribe files, though ours aren't filled with compelling stories; rather, just compelling imagery of, that's right, Ms. Uribe.
37. Veronica Orozco
Hometown: Bogota
Occupation: Actress/singer
Orozco is a famous movie and TV actress in Colombia, currently starring as Dr. Maria Alejandra Rivas Cavalier (whew!) in A Corazon Abierto. The show is considered to be Colombia's version of Grey's Anatomy, except that Dr. Meredith Grey is ten times more good-looking, and we, as a result, actually care.
36. Danna Garcia
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Actress
Garcia is currently working on her new thriller soap Alguien Te Mira, which means "Someones Watching You." She should be used to creeps checking her out all day, though.
35. Jery Sandoval
Hometown: Barranquilla
Occupation: Actress/singer
Sandoval started singing professionally at the age of 14, and she began her acting career two years later. We suspect it won't be long until she masters English and takes the U.S. by storm. Or at least we hope.
34. Paolo Andrea Rey
Hometown: Bucaramanga
Occupation: Actress
If Rey looks familiar, and it's not because you watch Colombian telenovelas, maybe you've noticed her as the face of Neutrogena. We're not saying that you're not worldly and wouldn't know of her television and films roles, but narrow-minded guys might prefer her skin care commercials for the lack of subtitles. Just saying.
33. Paola Turbay
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Occupation: Actress
Despite her CBS show Cane being cancelled after one season, Turbay has guest starred in a lot of our favorite small-screen programs, such as Californication, The Mentalist, and The Secret Life Of An American Teenager. What? Everyone is allowed at least one guilty pleasure.
32. Nawal Ayoub
Hometown: Barranquilla
Occupation: Model
It takes an especially beautiful woman to represent a country that seems to only produce dimes in the Miss Universe competition. These days, you can see Ayoub hosting Colombian television shows. Hey, Colombian television producers—we'll trade you Ryan Seacrest. Por favor?
31. Vanessa Mendoza
Hometown: Chocó
Occupation: Beauty queen/model
After growing up in poverty with sixteen siblings, Mendoza was named as the first black Miss Colombia in 2001, which led to the nickname "Black Barbie." She was the only contestant to admit to not receiving plastic surgery before the competition. So, women who look like Barbie really do exist? Should we move to Colombia?
30. Carolina Gaitan
Hometown: Villavicencio
Occupation: Actress/singer
Gaitan was a communications student before she chose to drop out and try her hand at acting. We're not saying education isn't necessary, but maybe all hot and talented women should try to see if they have a future where they get to be sexy on camera. Just a thought.
29. Catalina Sandino Moreno
Hometown: Bogota
Occupation: Actress
Settling for a bit part in Twilight: Eclipse might have been a leap down from her critically-acclaimed debut performance in Maria Full Of Grace, but we can respect her decision to expand her audience and create an American fan-base. More exposure only means more stateside demand for Catalina.
28. Sara Corrales
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Actress
Corrales is known in Colombia for her roles which earned her a nomination for the TV y Telemundo award. We, on the other hand, know her as the wonderful actress who appears topless in SoHo magazine. And, yeah, these pictures were enough to convince us to check out her soaps.
27. Karen Bray
Hometown: Unavailable
Occupation: Model
We have never seen a picture of this BetUs model with pants on, so why isn't she getting the attention she deserves in the U.S.?
26. Angie Cepeda
Hometown: Cartagena de Indias
Occupation: Actress
Before her career in TV and film, appearing in series such as El Muerto and De Paso, Cepeda worked on some advertisements for a beer company. Makes sense, considering that we're currently under her influence.
25. Catalina Denis
Hometown: Paris, France
Occupation: Actress/model
Not only does this list encourage us to brush up on our Spanish, but, once we heard Denis plays a striptease dancer in the film Le Mac, we picked up a Rosetta Stone for French, as well.
24. Maria Fernando Yepez
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Actress/model
Yepez is most known for her role in the telemundo hit Sin Senos no hay Paraíso, which, if Google Translation is correct, means "Without Breasts There is No Paradise." So true.
23. Lupe Fuentes
Hometown: Cali
Occupation: Porn star
Here's one reason why we wish this adult film actress wouldn't use "Lupe" as a stage name: When you call out her real name, Zuleydy Piedrahita, in bed, you can try to convince your girlfriend that you're speaking in tongues.
22. Natalia Paris
Hometown: Medellín
Occupation: Model
We would say that we'd love to date the exclusive model for Crystal Gold Beer and Besame Lingerie, but in Atlantic magazine earlier this year she was revealed to be the ex-wife of the top Colombian drug lord. So we will politely bow out.
21. Ana Sofia Henao
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Model
In a country-wide survey, Henao was named the most beautiful woman in Colombia. We're sure that every man there voted for her because of what she represents: the perfect woman. She's both an educated bikini model and the face/body of the Colombian beer Cervesa Cristal Oro.
20. Sandra Valencia
Hometown: Medellín
Occupation: Model
Not only does Valencia model lingerie, but she's also a fashion student. May she continue the tradition of designing skimpy outfits for future generations.
19. Manuela Arbelaez
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Actress/model
Lets face it, if you see a full dining set on The Price Is Right and your only guess is "One dollar," you didn't come to win—you came to see Arbelaez model. Also, if you're lucky enough to "Come on down," it's just to play the game, not to do what you daydream about doing with Arbelaez.
18. Andrea Serna
Hometown: Cali
Occupation: Model/TV personality
In 2005, this model (seriously, do an image search...you're welcome) became the host and the co-producer of Colombia's The X Factor. It took us six times of trying to call, long distance, to realize we couldn't vote for Serna to stay on stage longer.
17. Angelica Casanas
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Occupation: Model/video vixen
The model/dancer/actress, seen in countless music videos and now as Lady Hennessy, is better known as "Ms. Curves." Bet it took them hours to come up with that one.
16. Esperanza Gomez
Hometown: Belalcázar
Occupation: Model/porn star
We aren't really sure what happened in 2009. We didn't have time to pay attention to current events. Who is Obama and why was he inaugrated as president? Sorry, but that's when Esperanza Gomez started her porn career in the United States; thus, we were a bit preoccupied.
15. Elizabeth Loaiza
Hometown: Cali
Occupation: Beauty queen/Model
At 18, Loaiza was named Miss Colombia and, from there, her modeling career took off. Despite the fact that she's only 22, Miss Elizabeth has already done more than most people you've graduated with; she's the mother of a two-year-old and, recently, she was named “Girl of the Year” by Don Juan magazine.
14. Camila and Mariana Davalos
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Models
Colombia knew that people around the world depend on them for certain goods (coffee, lingerie models), so, due to supply and demand (we demand more of both, always), they decieded to give us a two-for-one gift: The Davalos twins. Much appreciated.
13. Natalia Velez
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Model/TV Personality
Velez appears in a mega campaign for Besame lingerie, which, if you fell asleep in high school Spanish, means "kiss me." Yes, please.
12. Selena Spice
Hometown: Cali
Occupation: Porn star
Spice was once given the very specific title of "World's Sexiest Amateur Latin Porn Star"; we, however, have a much simpler one, "The 12th Hottest Colombian Woman Alive."
11. Lianna Grethel
Hometown: Unavailable
Occupation: Actress/model
We may not be entirely familiar with Ms. Lianna Grethel's TV work as an actress on series such as Maria Bonita and Mascarada, given it's in Spanish and reading subtitles is distracting. But, we sure as hell know a beautiful woman when we see one, and we're more than willing to fully acquaint ourselves with Ms. Grethel.
10. Carolina Guerra
Hometown: Bogota
Occupation: Actress/model/TV personality
In 2005, Guerra was chosen to be Miss Bogota. She models and has hosted MTV's Rock Dinner, and is currently on the Telemundo telenovela La Diosa Coronada. As a jack of all trades, it's inevitable that she will try her hand at a steamy American film role soon. Fingers crossed.
9. Paula Garces
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Actress
The New York-born actress has co-starred in A Guiding Light, Clockstoppers, and The Shield, amongst other films and TV shows. This Christmas, she'll be gifting us with her next role: returning as Jon Cho's love interest, Maria, in A Very Harold And Kumar Christmas.
8. Lucia Tovar
Hometown: Cúcuta
Occupation: Model
Lucia Tovar's rags-to-riches story contains all of the plot points necessary for a strong biopic: a rough childhood as a shoe messenger, a struggle through early adult years as Hooters waitress, and a life-changing spread in Playboy. Just imagine the DVD's bonus features!
7. Catalina Otalvaro
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Model
We're seriously considering becoming life-long subscribers to SoHo magazine, mainly because Otalvaro once posed in a barely-there thong bikini for the publication.
6. Carla Ossa
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Model
While we appreciate all that Ossa has done for us in the lingerie and bikini world, we can't wait for her to take her first big shot at the film industry; so far, she's been in commercials for companies such as Burger King. Something in those ads makes our mouths water, and we're almost certain that it's not the Whopper.
5. Zulay Henao
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Actress
After emigrating to New Jersey and graduating high school, Henao joined the U.S. Army for three years. So, her role in Army Wives may have been easy for her, as would topping our list of "Hot Girls Who Could Kick Our Ass."
4. Karen Carreno
Hometown: Bucaramanga
Occupation: Model
When she was 15 years old, Carreno had to make a choice: continue on the path to a career in financial engineering or pursue modeling. At that same age, we had a difficult choice, too: Captain Crunch or Count Chocula.
3. Sofia Vergara
Hometown: Barranquilla
Occupation: Actress/Model
Thanks to ABC's Modern Family, Vergara, a longtime men's mag staple, has gained so much national exposure that she makes suburban dads everywhere turn into their own awkward version of Phil Dunphy whenever she hits the small screen.
2. Daniela Tamayo
Hometown: Medellin
Occupation: Model
Tamayo may be the perfect woman: She's beautiful and she owns a restaurant in her hometown, Medellin. Some say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but lingerie modeling doesn't hurt, either.
1. Shakira
Hometown: Barranquilla
Occupation: Singer
While currently on her fifth world tour in support of her sixth and seventh studio albums (She Wolf and Sale El Sol, respectively), the pint-sized international pop star is arguably the biggest name from her home country. Try as you might to refute the claim, but her hips don't lie, and neither do the over fifty million albums she's sold worldwide.