Jennifer Colón

Jennifer Colón Álvarado (born December 21, 1987), also known as Jenny Allende, is a Puerto Rican model, singer, tv host, esthetician, iridologist, businesswoman and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2024. As a 36-year-old woman and single mother of three children, Colón made history by becoming the first woman over the age of 28 and first mother to win the title. In the history of Miss Universe, Colón was the second woman over the age of 32 and currently one of the three oldest women to have been selected to compete in the pageant. She was also the fourth mother and second single mother to have been selected to participate in the pageant. Colón will represent Puerto Rico in Miss Universe 2024.

Colón was previously crowned Miss World Puerto Rico 2009 and represented Puerto Rico in Miss World 2009.

Early life
Colón was born in Connecticut in the United States to Puerto Rican parents. Within months of her being born, her family moved back to their hometown, Orocovis, Puerto Rico. When she was 4 years old, her late brother was born with a rare disease called nonketotic hyperglycinemia. Her family relocated to the metropolitan area of San Juan because of the needs of her brother with functional disability. Her grandfather, Eliseo Alvarado, was a well known musician in Orocovis.

In 2005, Colón graduated with honors from high school Colegio Bautista in Levittown, Puerto Rico and studied chemistry for three years (2005–2008) at Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico in Cupey.

In 2008, she changed her major to architecture, studying at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, but only completed one year.

As a model, she appeared in editorials and fashion shows in Puerto Rico.

As of 2024, Colón had her own practice as a medical esthetician and iridologist.

Miss Puerto Rico Teen 2006
At 16 years old, Colón participated in Miss Puerto Rico Teen 2006 with Natalia Rivera Piñero, where she placed 2nd runner-up.

Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2009
On October 22, 2008, Colón competed in the Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2009 competition representing San Juan municipality. She was considered a strong contender and was predicted by many to win the pageant. However, she placed 1st runner-up to Mayra Matos of Cabo Rojo. She also won the award for "Most Beautiful Hair".

Miss World Puerto Rico 2009
In early 2009, Colón decided to represent her hometown of Bayamón in the Miss World Puerto Rico 2009 pageant, held on July 23, 2009 in Puerto Rico. Prior to the final competition, Colón won the Top Model fast-track event on July 9, which automatically guaranteed her a spot as a semi-finalist. Ivonne Orsini, who won the title of Miss World Puerto Rico 2008, would eventually crown Colón as Miss World Puerto Rico 2009.

Miss World 2009
Colón represented Puerto Rico in Miss World 2009, held in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 12, 2009, where she was one of the semifinalists in the Miss World Sports and Miss World Beach Beauty fast-track events, but did not advance to the semifinals in the final competition.

Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2024
On April 18, 2024, Colón was presented as one of the 28 delegates competing at Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2024, representing Orocovis. Following her introduction, El Nuevo Día named her as one of the three competitors in the pageant who drew most attention during the presentation, describing the moment as "todos los ojos estaban puestos sobre ellas" ("all eyes were on them"). Colón was viewed as one of the "favorites" leading up to the coronation night.

At the coronation night, Colón advanced to the Top 5, where she was asked, "Which, for you, is the function of a queen, and what kind of queen are you?". She responded the following in Spanish:

"La principal función de una reina es erradicar los esquemas y romper paradigmas. Y como mujer de 36 años y madre de tres, es precisamente lo que estoy haciendo esta noche. Quiero que cada mujer se vea reflejada en mí. Yo tuve la oportunidad de reconstruir mi autoestima, pieza por pieza, así que mujer que me estás viendo, si yo lo hice, tú también lo puedes hacer. Quiero hacer historia en México. Quiero representar a Puerto Rico con orgullo, para que entonces, cuando nos vean, sabrán que la luz que brilla en nosotros no es pasajera."

which reads as follows in English:

"The primary function of a queen is to eradicate schemes and break paradigms. And as a 36 year old woman and mother of three, it is precisely what I am doing tonight. I want every woman to see herself reflected in me. I had the opportunity to rebuild by self-esteem piece by piece, so woman who is watching me, if I did it, you can do it too. I want to make history in Mexico. I want to represent Puerto Rico with pride, so that then, when they see us, they know that the light that shines within us is not fleeting."

At the end of the event, Colón was named as the winner and was crowned by outgoing titleholder Karla Guilfú. With her win, Colón made history by becoming the first woman over the age of 28 and first mother to be selected to represent Puerto Rico in Miss Universe.

Miss Universe 2024
Colón will be representing Puerto Rico in Miss Universe 2024.

In the history of Miss Universe, Colón is currently one of the three oldest women to have been selected to compete in the pageant. In June, both Colón and Miss Kosovo 2024, Edona Bajrami, won the Miss Universe 2024 title in their respective countries at the age of 36, becoming the first women over the age of 32 to be selected for the pageant. In July, Miss Malta 2024, Beatrice Njoya, became the oldest delegate in history to have been selected for the pageant at the age of 39.

After Miss Guatemala 2023, Michelle Cohn, Miss Colombia 2023, Camila Avella, and Miss Venezuela 2024, Ileana Márquez, Colón was also the fourth mother selected to participate in the pageant. Colón was the second single mother selected to compete in the pageant, after Miss Venezuela 2024, Ileana Márquez. In July, Miss Netherlands 2024, Faith Landman, and Miss Malta 2024, Beatrice Njoya, became the fifth and sixth mothers to have been selected in the history of the pageant. They are also the third and forth single mothers to compete in the pageant.

Advocacy
Colón is the founder and CEO of Healing Hands Puerto Rico, which seeks to rebuild the self-esteem of women who have experienced traumatic or difficult circumstances, including victims of domestic violence and strained caregivers, through free aesthetic services. She describes her advocacy as a "movement".

Personal life
Through Miss World Puerto Rico, Colón met Elán Allende, son of Mexican artist Fernando Allende. On September 21, 2010, Colón and Allende secretly wed in Puerto Rico with only relatives present. The couple's daughter María Valentina was born on June 21, 2011. On April 20, 2012, the couple welcomed their second child, son Fernando José.

Together they formed a Latin pop music duo called Shambayah. Previously, both Allende and Colón were cast members for the reality TV show on Bravo called Mexican Dynasties. However, the couple separated and divorced.

By 2021, Colón was engaged to Puerto Rican actor Jairo Calero. In 2022, the couple welcomed a daughter, Cataleya, but separated later.