COLOMBIAN BEAUTY QUEENS TOUR ISRAEL

Foreign Ministry brings four women to see the sites - and share photos online

BY AMY SPIRO OCTOBER 18, 2018 18:21

Colombian beauty queens floating in the Dead Sea on their visit to Israel. (photo credit: DAVID SALEM/FOREIGN MINISTRY)

For the past few days, four Colombian beauty queens have been taking in all that Israel has to offer – and sharing it with their fans online.

The Israeli Embassy in Bogota and the Foreign Ministry’s public diplomacy department invited Daniella Alvarez, Lucia Aldana, Laura Barjum and Stefania Fernandez Krupij on an all-expenses paid vacation to the Jewish state.

Since arriving earlier this week, the four women have floated in the Dead Sea, prayed at the Western Wall, visited Yad Vashem and took in cultural sites in Tel Aviv.

The Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the goal is “to present Israel to young audiences around the world – through celebrities whose experiences in Israel enhance Israel’s image and contribute to the promotion of tourism and commerce.”

And the trip has certainly been photogenic.

“I’m happy to have this great opportunity!” wrote Alvarez, Miss Colombia 2012, on Instagram to her 430,000 followers. “I hope you follow me on this tour to learn together the beauty and culture of #Jerusalem.”

Fernandez Krupij, a Venezuelan model who was crowned Miss Universe in 2009 and now lives in Bogota, has shared more than a dozen photos of her trip so far with her 1.1 million Instagram followers.

“They say that the people here talk to Him,” wrote Barjum alongside a photo of her at the Western Wall on Sunday. “I felt rather that He enveloped me, embraced me, supported me,” she told her 888,000 followers. “Now I will keep this feeling forever,” said the Miss Colombia 2017 winner, who was 1st runner up at the Miss Universe pageant that year.

“It is a true honor and pleasure to be in this wonderful place with these women,” wrote Aldana next to a photo of the four visitors. “Thanks to the Israeli Embassy in Colombia for this great experience.”

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Colombian-beauty-queens-tour-Israel-569747