Isabella Cortés, founder of Women for Conservation, wins four titles in the Fiestas del Mar 2025 pageant.
Our founder Isabella Cortés Lara shone brightly at the unforgettable Fiestas del Mar 2025 in Santa Marta, Colombia, being awarded four sashes in the annual pageant, a monthlong event where women representing their hometowns compete in a number of sporting, activism, and beauty events. Isabella won Vice Queen of the Fiestas del Mar, Captain Eagle (a monetary prize she donated to Vista Nieves School in the Sierra Nevada), Queen of Vista Nieves – Sierra Nevada, and the Prize for the Best Nautical Event, in which she achieved a perfect score in swimming and kayaking. Additionally, she was a finalist for Best Face.
Her performance in the competition not only highlighted her as a well-rounded and talented woman, but also served as an opportunity to highlight the work we lead in defense of nature and communities. Isabella is currently Executive Director of Women for Conservation, a position she shares with her mother, Sara Inés Lara. Together, they promote environmental education, family planning, and sustainable livelihood programs in the Sierra Nevada that strengthen local communities.
With Indigenous roots and a strong commitment to the land, Isabella has made the Sierra Nevada the heart of her cause. She promotes projects in the area that integrate conservation with family well-being, demonstrating that it is possible to care for the forest while simultaneously generating productive alternatives for women and their communities.
She triumphed in the demanding nautical test—one of the most iconic of the contest, combining physical skills, leadership and environmental awareness. It reflects the essence of her work: sailing with respect for water, life, and the land. “Sailing is listening to the wind, understanding the water, and moving with respect for the life that lives within it. That's what the Sierra taught me,” Isabella said after receiving the award.
With these awards, Isabella not only establishes herself as a prominent figure at the Fiestas del Mar, but also demonstrates the purpose of Women for Conservation to the public: to empower women, protect ecosystems, and build a sustainable future for the world.
