Meet Catalina Duque, the new Miss International 2025 queen
Colombia's Catalina Duque bested 79 other delegates, clinching the coveted crown during the final night held on Nov. 27 in Tokyo, Japan. She now takes over the reign from last year’s winner, Huỳnh Thị Thanh Thủy of Vietnam.
From the early rounds to the grand finale, Catalina’s charisma and impactful advocacy made her stand out as the clear choice for this year’s crown.
During the final Q&A round, she and the other finalists were asked the question: "If you were to describe your entire Miss International experience to your family and loved ones, what would you tell them?"
Her winning answer was: "My family is actually here with me today, so I'll say it directly to them. I used to think that the big moments were the only ones that mattered, but learning about Japanese culture, I've learned about 'Mono no aware,' about the little things. Just how the leaves fall in autumn and they make things beautiful, how kids hug me and they smile at me, and how every yummy, tasty ramen I have reminds me to have a glorious life and to enjoy every single moment. I'm so thankful for being here, and I'm having so much fun."
As she steps into her role as the pageant’s newest titleholder, it’s time for us to learn more about the woman behind the crown.
She has strong advocacy for education
Throughout her MI journey, Catalina actively championed the cause of education, particularly as a means to empower girls and young women. Her efforts focused on helping them cultivate social leadership skills so they could "shine with authenticity, confidence, and humility."
One of her three educational projects, The Golden Queen: More Than Beauty, is an illustrated story about having beauty that comes, teaching young girls that it comes from respect, kindness, and empathy. It also features an activity page that helps readers unleash their creativity.
"When we educate with love, we shape leaders who build peace and equality," she said in her advocacy video.
She's a podcaster
Catalina hosts The Golden Club podcast, one of her education projects, where she talks with "the brightest, bravest, and most disruptive minds" who use their platforms and real-life experiences to help and inspire others to be better.
According to its website, the podcast is her platform to "give a voice to those who are shaping the world with their talents, their causes, and their desire to change everything. I want every conversation to connect with, inspire, and leave our listeners thinking."
She's passionate about social work
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Catalina Duque Abréu | The Golden Club (@catalinaduquea)
Catalina has also worked with organizations, specifically those helping children and young girls.
She's a multilingual speaker and an achiever
Did you know that Catalina is fluent in three languages—Spanish, English, and Portuguese?
The beauty queen earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Communication with a specialization in Digital Marketing. During her studies, she demonstrated strong leadership skills, serving as a student representative on the Board of Directors, an honorary member of the UN Society student group, and as director of Public Relations and Marketing. She also received Leadership Scholarships, as seen on her LinkedIn account.
She's also working at Cementos Argos in the External Communications department.
