Having pride in where you come from is a beautiful thing, because as you travel to other parts of the world, you get to share that pride with others in a way that is not always represented in the media. And when you are a Latino celebrity with an incredible reach who is proud of your heritage, you become a sort of cultural ambassador. Take Colombian celebrities who have made it big in the US. They get to represent Colombia and share its rich cultural history, and we love it because there are some people out here that still don't associate Colombia with anything other than Pablo Escobar, and ENOUGH already.
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Colombians have so much to be proud of, including their culture, their food, their music, and most of all, their wonderful people. Some of our favorite celebrities who come from the South American nation do a great job of giving their country a shout-out on what is basically a world stage. Stars like J Balvin, Shakira, and Sofía Vergara have taken the Colombian flag and planted it so high the world can't help but salute. Scroll through to see other stars who are proud to be Colombian.
Catalina Sandino Moreno was captivating in her breakout role.
The actress played the titular role in 2004's Maria Full of Grace and stole critic's hearts. She is the first Colombian actress to be nominated for an Oscar. "I feel I have a responsibility, as an actress, as a Colombian immigrant, and just as a person, to show people reality. It would be nice to be an actress who loves action movies, but I'm not that kind of actress," she has said.
Manolo Cardona has been acting since adolescence.
He landed his first commercial when he was 14 years old. More recently, you may have seen him in ¿Quién mató a Sara?, one of Netflix's top series in Spanish. And his star continues to rise, so keep a lookout for him in new projects.
Shakira can easily be named as one of the most famous Colombians.
The singer has become one of the most popular musicians in the world. Through her crossover into the English-language market, she shines a beautiful light on her native country and represents it with pride and joy.
Sofía Vergara made sure her country was represented.
When she landed the lead role as Gloria in Modern Family, the actress made sure that her character's background was the same as hers. She had Gloria's background changed from Mexican to Colombian, so the show shed a light on Colombian culture and its customs.
J Balvin is proud of Colombia, no matter how far he goes.
It certainly seems like one of the reggaetonero's main goals is to lift his country and its people as high as they can go. No matter what he's doing or where he is, he always reps Colombia to the fullest.
Maluma is one of Colombia's most famous faces.
Let's be honest—it's not just his face that is famous. In just a few short years, the singer has made a name for himself as the head-to-toe hottie from Colombia. He also reps his country in every way, and his mission is to give back to his people in any way he can.
Karol G is proud of her roots.
Karol G is making a name for herself as an artist in the reggaeton world, which is heavily dominated by men. Along the way, she is doing so by making the people of the city where she was born and raised, Medellín, proud.
James Rodríguez is one of the most recognized faces in soccer.
He's a proud papa, a proud Colombian, and an excellent soccer player. He is known as one of his country's strongest players, and he's also been ranked as one of the best players in the world.
Juanes makes Colombia proud.
The singer has traveled all over the world performing his hit songs and making the world know that Colombia is in his heart and in his music. In 2006, he started the Mi Sangre Foundation, which is dedicated to putting an end to land mines in Colombia while at the same time supporting victims of land mine accidents in the country.
No one lights up the stage quite like Carlos Vives.
For decades, the singer has been creating upbeat music that makes us dance—music that celebrates vallenato, the traditional music of Colombia. He's considered a great ambassador for his country because he is so incredibly successful and the music that he shares with the world is a love song to Colombia.
John Leguizamo is so proud of his roots.
The actor has shaken things up in Hollywood and is always representing his Latino roots. He was born in Bogotá, Colombia, on July 22, 1960. His family moved to New York when he was a kid. He credits being a transplant from Colombia as one of the reasons why he's so funny. "It was tough. There were lots of fights. I would walk through a park and be attacked, and I had to defend myself all the time. But this helped me to become funny so that I wouldn't get hit," he said in an interview.
Catherine Siachoque is a telenovela superstar.
Telenovela villains, she's played a few. The actress is a staple on Colombian television. Yes, she's beautiful, AND she's got brains. She went back to school in 2021 to further her education after having quit medical school decades ago to pursue her acting career.
The gorgeous Ximena Duque is a proud Colombian.
Ximena was born in on January 30, 1985, in Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. When she was 12 years old, her family moved to Miami, Florida, where she started pursuing acting. She has had much success on the small screen via many roles on telenovelas.
Fanny Lu is one of Colombia's sweethearts.
She started off acting and then began showcasing her talents as a singer. Her upbeat and warm personality is delightful. As Fanny Lu's fame spread outside of Colombia, she quickly stole people's hearts while representing her country of origin with pride.
Fonseca honors Colombia through his music.
Any song by Fonseca makes you feel like you are taking a trip to Colombia. His music, a mix of cumbia and vallenatos, is so symbolic of the country's culture, and the singer has taken it all across the world.
