Latin Colombian Models: Vanessa Mendoza – The first and only black queen of Colombia

She the first and only black beauty queen of Colombian to reach Miss universe representing Colombia.

Vanessa Alexandra Mendoza is from the department of Chocó, Colombia. She grew up in a small town called Ungía. Mendoza grew up in poverty, and she is part of a group of sixteen siblings. Her Father died when she was young, leaving his mother to care for her and her fifteen brothers and sisters. Despite the poor conditions in which her family lived, Vanessa showed early interest in becoming a model, and began to pursue the career.

Mendoza became Miss Colombian of the department Chocó in the year 2001 and was confronted with a racial scandal.
She became the first black Miss Colombia. Despite the suspicion that she only had won the contest to end the rumors about racism, Mendoza became popular among Colombians, who gave her the nickname “Black Barbie”.