Inmates show off colorful headgear as they wait in line for the costume parade during a beauty pageant at El Buen Pastor women’s prison in Bogota, Colombia

Tatiana Noguera, one of the contestants sends a kiss to a fellow inmate as she prepares for a beauty pageant at El Buen Pastor prisonMost of the inmates have been convicted of drug trafficking or are awaiting trial. They include 50 foreigners, none of whom took part in this year’s pageant.

Villareal, a mother of three with nine grandchildren, is serving time for drug trafficking. She wouldn’t disclose the length of her sentence.

The pageant is held every year on the feast of the Virgin of Mercy, patron saint of prisoners.

‘Even though they are in prison, they have not lost the essence of being women,’ said prisons bureau employee Maria Virginia Camacho, who organized this year’s pageant.

This year’s contest included two runway walks, one in fokloric garb, the other in elegant gowns.

Inmate Danllely Quinonez, who says she is serving seven years for drug trafficking, waits her turn to participate in the costume parade

Tatiana Noguera parades in an evening gown during a beauty pageant inside El Buen Pastor women’s prison in Bogota, Colombia

Inmates in costume walk to the stage to participate in a beauty pageant inside El Buen Pastor womenís prison in Bogota, Colombia

Inmates talk to a prison guard as they get ready for a beauty contest inside El Buen Pastor women’s prison in Bogota, Colombia

Inmates get their make-up and hair done before the start of a beauty pageant at El Buen Pastor women’s prison in Bogota, Colombia

Inmates walk during the annual beauty contest at the El Buen Pastor prison in Bogota, Colombia

An inmate struts her stuff at the El Buen Pastor prison in Bogota, Colombia