title: Valeria Morales
text: # Valeria Morales
  
  Valeria Morales Delgado (born 2 January 1998) is a Colombian model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Colombia 2018 on 30 September 2018. She represented Colombia at the Miss Universe 2018 pageant in Bangkok, Thailand but failed to place in the Top 20.
  
  ## Early life
  
  On January 2, 1998, Morales was born and grew up in Cali. She is a Social Communication student from Broward College, Florida, United States. She is the owner of Professional Models Fashion Academy.
  
  ## Pageantry
  
  ### Miss Universe Colombia 2018
  
  Morales was crowned as Miss Universe Colombia 2018 held on September 30, 2018, at the Club El Rodeo in Medellín, Colombia. She succeeded outgoing Miss Universe Colombia 2017 and Miss Universe 2017's 1st Runner-up Laura González.
  
  ### Miss Universe 2018
  
  As Miss Universe Colombia 2018, Morales represented Colombia at the Miss Universe 2018 pageant in Bangkok, Thailand. Although considered a favorite and front runner, Morales failed to place in the Top 20, ending Colombia's four year streak of consecutive placements, from 2014 through 2017. At the time of being crowned Miss Universe Colombia , Valeria Morales caused a storm with a statement that didn't show much goodwill when talking about the Spanish transgender beauty Ángela Ponce. " Miss Universe is a beauty pageant for women who are born a woman. That is detrimental to her. We respect but do not agree to share this playground with her." .
  
  