The Real Reason Colombian Women Always Look Hot

On a fateful New Year’s Eve, my mother went into labor in the early morning hours. Wanting to be home in time for fireworks and champagne, the hospital staff induced her labor so they could finish before midnight. And so, as the new year arrived, I entered the world with a piece of umbilical cord still drying on my belly button, a potentially dirty diaper, and tiny gold hoops already pierced in my ears.

Yes, in Colombia, baby girls get their ears pierced at the hospital on the day they’re born. Even in a rush, I was made to look like a little lady. While that might sound shocking to some in the U.S., to me, it perfectly captures the cultural contrast between my homeland and my current life in America: in Colombia, beauty isn’t optional—it’s as foundational as cutting the umbilical cord.

I just got back from a trip to Colombia and was once again reminded of how stark the contrast really is. In America, more than once I’ve been asked, “Where are you going looking so nice?” when I’ve simply put on a cute dress to grab some eggs. In Colombia, if I wore that same "errand outfit," I’d be asked if something was wrong. "Estás deprimida? (depressed?)" It’s a real question. Looking put together isn’t for special occasions. It’s a daily ritual, a mark of self-respect.

In Colombia, beauty isn’t optional—it’s as foundational as cutting the umbilical cord.

And before you dismiss this as some pageant-obsessed culture (although, yes, we have beauty pageants for just about every vegetable—Miss Coffee included), understand this: it’s not about superficiality. It’s about celebration. Colombian culture genuinely enjoys praising beauty in all its forms, and especially in women. We don’t see anything wrong with that. Why should we? After all, women’s beauty in many ways makes the world go round and we deserve to be praised for it. 

The Ugly Betty Effect

Let’s talk about Ugly Betty. This telenovela went viral across Latin America before being remade in more than 20 different countries. It is by far one of the best soap operas ever made and its Colombian origin is quite telling. The premise? A woman who’s considered “ugly” transforms not through surgery or radical changes but by rediscovering her femininity, grace, and confidence. In her transformation she never stops being herself, instead she grows in confidence and this brings out her natural beauty. She was always beautiful—she just forgot to show it.

That is, in many ways, the philosophy behind Colombian beauty culture. We don’t believe in ugly women, only women who forgot to put themselves together that morning. It’s not harsh; it’s hopeful. Beauty is not something you're born with or without. It's something you cultivate and culturally, we encourage women to do so. 

Why Do Colombian Women Always Look So Good?

The answer is simple: intention.

We dress like we might run into our ex or meet the love of our lives at any moment. Because honestly, the odds may be low but are never zero. But more importantly, it’s about how we carry ourselves. The care we give to our appearance is not just for others. It's for us. We take the same pride in our presentation that we do in our work or our homes. It signals that we are awake, aware, and present, but also that we are grateful and appreciative of what we have. Whether it’s our material possessions, like our home, or our physical features—our body, hair, and face—it reflects a conscious choice to embrace and care for the gifts God has given us.

In Colombia, self-care isn’t a spa day, it’s your daily discipline. You get up. You shower. You do your hair. You apply makeup, even if it’s just mascara and a lip tint. You wear perfume. You pick an outfit with intention. And no, it’s not exhausting—it’s energizing. Nonetheless, I will admit that most Colombian women stick to a beauty salon as if it was their dentist. Growing up I noticed some of my Aunts would head to the salon every weekend and would always get their hair blow dried and nails freshly polished. This was a ritual to get ready for the week. While this may seem excessive, they were getting great discounts for their loyalty and in many ways this service doubled as therapy, since it's the time when women would come together and talk about whatever is going on. While not every Colombian woman visits the salon weekly, they certainly do monthly or bi-monthly, since the vast majority highlights their hair in order to never let it look dull. And I must add, a Colombian woman would never be caught with bad nails. If everything fails, an at home manicure is always an option. 

Beauty as a Form of Self-Discipline

American culture often conflates putting effort towards our appearance with insecurity or even low-self-worth.“If she’s trying too hard, she must be insecure and attention-seeking,” I’ve heard many times. But in Colombia, that same dedication is viewed as a form of discipline. Like eating well, exercising, or showing up on time, looking put together is considered part of a virtuous life. It says: I care about myself, and I care about this moment.

There’s something deeply feminine about that kind of care—about believing that how you present yourself to the world matters. We’re not saying beauty is the most important thing about a woman. But we are saying it’s a good and special thing about every woman. And good things are worth celebrating.

The cultural difference between Americans and Colombians when it comes to celebrating beauty stems from each country’s founding origins. America was founded by Puritans and Quakers, who historically viewed beauty as immoral or even sinful. While we can all agree that this is no longer the prevailing belief, the cultural impact remains undeniable. Today, celebrating women’s beauty may not be seen as sinful, but there’s still a tendency to regard it as impractical, shallow, or simply unimportant. Americans still value practicality, effectiveness, and even productivity over beauty, and I’d dare say, we’ve been at war against beauty.

One of the best examples of the Colombian approach to beauty and discipline is Caterine Ibargüen at the Rio Olympics. While most athletes wore simple ponytails and bare faces, Caterine arrived at the competition with her makeup perfectly done, her hair styled, a coordinated headband and socks, golden jewelry, and a radiant smile. She embodied the idea that strength and femininity can go hand in hand—proving that excellence and the incredible muscles she has don’t require sacrificing beauty.

Feminine Confidence Isn’t Narcissistic—It’s Inspiring

In dating, there’s a different mindset too. Colombian women dress beautifully not just for themselves, but also because we understand that beauty is good for men. It inspires them. It draws them out of apathy and into pursuit. A man who sees a confident, glowing woman feels motivated, not intimidated. As Marilyn Monroe said in the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: “Don’t you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty? You may not marry a girl just because she is pretty, but oh my goodness doesn’t it help.” Inversely, we may not marry a man just because he is rich, but why would we discourage him from challenging himself and working hard?

And more than that, we believe every good husband deserves a beautiful wife. Not in a trophy-wife, gold-digging kind of way. But in a “my wife is my pride” kind of way. A man who works hard and loves well should be met with a woman who brings joy to his senses and to his spirit. And vice versa.

Practical Tips To Become A Hot Columbian Woman (Even if you're not!)

You don’t need to be Colombian to tap into this energy. Here are a few simple habits you can incorporate into your daily routine that embody this mindset:

1. Never leave the house without perfume. In Colombia, scent is part of your signature. Find a fragrance that makes you feel feminine and powerful. It doesn’t have to be expensive and there’s plenty of non-toxic options in the market, what matters the most is how it makes you feel and makes others feel when they greet you. Colombian women always greet others with a kiss on the cheek so how you smell, good or bad, will be noted upon first meeting.

2. Invest in matching sets and elevated basics. A coordinated linen set or a well-fitted dress makes errands feel elegant. Colombian women don’t spend hours putting an outfit together (unless it's Carnival season.) So for an everyday look, having quality and comfortable basics is a must.

3. Brush your hair like it’s a ritual. Your hair tells the world how much time you’ve given yourself today. Five extra minutes goes a long way. Even if it is just a ponytail, make sure it's well done.

4. Add color to your face—even if it’s minimal. A bit of blush, mascara, and lip balm can transform your entire mood. Colombian women tend to go for natural looks but this does not mean that they skip the effort part of the effortless look.

5. Keep your nails tidy. Not because it’s trendy, but because it shows you value yourself enough to care about the details.

6. Don’t save your clothes for “special” occasions. Every day is special. If you love it, wear it. Worst case, find the occasion! There’s always something to celebrate.

7. Walk like you mean it. Confidence isn’t about loudness—it’s about posture, grace, and poise. Nothing ruins a great outfit and a killer body like bad posture. There’s also plenty of studies linking our body language and our mental health, so keep an eye out for this! Tip: dancing is the main workout Colombian women use to work on their posture and confidence.

8. Smile. This might be the oldest Colombian beauty trick in the book, but it works every time. 

9. Be prepared. I clearly remember back in sixth grade when my classmates and I started hitting puberty, and our homeroom teacher at our all-girls school assigned us as homework to put together a self-care-pouch. It had to include: deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, body mist, nail filer, lip balm, and period supplies. Randomly throughout the year, our teacher would check that we had our little self-care-pouches in our backpacks and that they actually had everything we needed. The older I get, the more I appreciate the school’s effort to make self-care part of our education.

You don’t have to wear heels every day or contour like a beauty queen to embrace this mindset. It’s about shifting your internal dialogue. Instead of thinking, Why bother?, start asking, Why not show up for myself today?

When I came back to the U.S. after this recent trip, I didn’t bring home exotic coffee or emerald jewelry (okay, maybe a little bit of coffee). I brought back that energy—the idea that beauty can be a habit and even a small rebellion against the culture of casual neglect. 

There’s a kind of feminine dignity that gets lost in the West’s attempt to flatten everything. We’re told that beauty is a trap, that it’s only for the male gaze, or for the beauty products industry, or that it makes us shallow. But in Colombia, beauty is seen as an offering—to God, to others, and to ourselves. It's not a mask; it’s an expression of gratitude and joy for being alive.

We don't believe beauty and depth are at odds. You can be brilliant and wear heels. You can be devout and wear red lipstick. You can be a mother of seven and still look like you’re in a telenovela. It’s not about pressure or perfection. It’s about presence and acknowledging your beauty, because trust me, you have plenty of it and the world deserves to see it. 

I’ll admit that for Colombian standards, I’ve always been a tom-boy. I don’t dye my hair, I wear almost zero makeup and very little jewelry, and I'm the only one in my childhood friend group without a boob job (Colombian women’s favorite procedure.) Nonetheless, for American standards, I find myself continually getting asked, why tinted lip-balm when I'm heading to play sports? Why high heels on a normal work day? Why a dress and matching earrings on a Saturday morning when I'm running random errands? And my answer will continue to be, “Because I deserve to look nice and I’ll be the first to acknowledge my own beauty.”