Bogota, January 27 (RHC-Xinhua) -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has congratulated Paulina Vega for her victory in an annual Miss Universe pageant. "It shows we have very intelligent, very hard-working, but above all, very pretty women," the Caracol news network quoted Santos as saying.

Vega, 22, defeated 87 contestants to win the crown Sunday night in Miami, Florida, to become the second Colombian woman to win the title after Luz Marina Zuluaga, who was crowned in 1958.

Santos, who is currently in France for an official visit, said via Twitter that he spoke with Vega to congratulate her for her win.

Thousands of Colombians gathered in Vega's hometown of Barranquilla to celebrate the victory.

"Colombia is home to the prettiest women in the universe, and of course we have to celebrate, just as we have to celebrate having one of the world's best football teams," reveler Carlos Garcia said.