List of Lebanese people in Colombia explained

This is a list of notable individuals born in Colombia of Lebanese ancestry or people of Lebanese and Colombian dual nationality who live or lived in Colombia.

Academia

• Elías Bechara Zainúm - Cordoban philanthropist and chemist

Beauty pageant contestants

• Laura González - Miss Colombia 2017
• Gabriela Tafur - Miss Colombia 2019
• Valerie Domínguez Tarud - Miss Colombia 2005
• Paola Turbay - Miss Colombia 1991
• Taliana Vargas - Miss Colombia 2008
• Yamile Dajud - Miss Sucre 2021
• Juliana Habib - Miss Córdoba 2021

Entertainment

• Carolina Guerra - actress, model, singer and presenter
• Majida Issa - actress
• Javier Jattin - professional Colombian actor
• John Leguizamo - American actor (maternal grandfather was Lebanese)
• Veronica Orozco - actress, singer and model
• Felipe Aljure - film festival program^[1]

Journalism

• Leila Cobo - Music journalist for Billboard magazine^[2]
• Andrea Serna - RCN presenter and model
• Diana Turbay - journalist (daughter of Julio César Turbay Ayala)

Medicine

• Salomón Hakim - neurosurgeon

Musicians

• Silvestre Dangond singer
• Naty Botero - singer
• Shakira - singer^[3]
• Soraya - singer^[4]

Politicians

• Julio César Turbay Ayala - former president of Colombia^[5]
• Jairo Clopatofsky - former senator
• José David Name - senator
• Claudia Turbay Quintero - diplomat and journalist
• José Name Terán - former senator
• Gabriel Turbay
  • Zulema Jattin Erasmo Zuleta - Córdobes politician and governor of Córdoba
• Edwin Besaile - former governor of Córdoba

Sports

• Mauricio Hadad - former tennis player
• Robert Farah Maksoud - tennis player
• Faryd Mondragón - professional football player
• Fuad Reveiz - former American football player
• Alberto Rujana - professional football manager
• Jhonson Garzon - professional Boxer

Writers, literature, playwrights, artists

• Meira Delmar - poet
• Soad Louis Lakah

Notes and References

1. News: Mango . Agustin . Colombia's Cartagena Film Festival Appoints New Director . 12 October 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . 10 July 2018.
2. Cobo . Leila . Why the Term 'Latinx' Hasn't Taken Off Among Latins -- And Likely Never Will . Billboard . May 13, 2021 . May 12, 2021.
3. ^ "Shakira proud of Arab background". BBC News. November 4, 2005.
4. http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art6388.asp Billboard Spirit of Hope Award
5. http://www.alaq.org.au/Biographys/prominent_international_lebanese/julio_cesar_turbay_ayala.htm The Australian Lebanese Association of Queenslands, Inc.