Get to know Vanessa Pulgarin, the first winner of Miss Grand International All Stars
The Miss Grand International All-Stars competition has now crowned its first queen!
The inaugural pageant held at the Bravo BKK Mall's MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, ended on a high note with Colombian beauty queen Vanessa Pulgarin besting a total of 55 pageant veterans to claim the historic title.
Pulgarin impressed both judges and fans throughout the competition with her commanding stage presence, confidence, and polished performances in the different segments of the pageant.
If you're curious about who Pulgarin is beyond the stage, here's what you need to know about her:
She is a journalist
It seems that Pulgarin has always had a knack for communication and storytelling, as she pursued a career in journalism before making waves in the pageant scene.
According to El Colombiano, she is a social communicator and journalist who graduated from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana.
Her first international win at 34
While Pulgarin is no stranger to beauty pageants, she always fell short of clinching an international crown. When she represented Colombia at Miss International 2017, she ended her journey unplaced, and during Miss Universe 2025, she only reached the Top 12.
Now, after a decade since she competed in her first pageant in 2016, Pulgarin finally secured her first major international crown at 34 years old.
In an interview with pageant vlogger Adam Genato, she opened up about why she thought it was the perfect time to come back to pageantry.
"I think this is the moment because I feel confident. I know myself, and that is really important, so when you know yourself, you can bring everything," she said.
She's into sports
When she's not in evening gowns and swimsuits, Pulgarin puts on her athletic gear and stays active through sports and fitness activities.
Based on her social media posts, the beauty queen enjoys maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. She previously shared pictures of herself playing pickleball and how she had won not one, but three tournaments.
"Perseverance is the key to achieving our dreams. After months of feeling stuck in [paddle], where frustration sometimes wanted to take over, I decided not to give up. Every practice, every game, every fall, they were taking me to a place I couldn't see yet," she wrote.
Today I am met with immense joy and a total surprise: I have won the last three tournaments! This success doesn't just feel like a triumph on the track, but a tribute to all the sacrifices, hours of practice, and unwavering belief in myself," she added.
In another post, Pulgarin also delighted her fans when she revealed that she had finished a 21-kilometer marathon.
"I ran with my heart, with passion and with the certainty that each step made me stronger. It's not just about reaching the finish line, it's about enjoying the journey, trusting yourself and giving it your all," she said.
With her victory at the first edition of MGI All Stars, Pulgarin is expected to return for the second edition to defend her title.
