Karol G Stuns in Colombian Jewels at Her Con Cora Gala While Putting Latina Entrepreneurs Front & Center
Karol G has proven she’ll never miss out on a chance to celebrate her Colombian heritage. Her appearance at the Con Cora Foundation benefit gala was no different. The music sensation paid a subtle homage to her roots by taking Colombian emeralds to the red carpet.
Con Cora’s Empowerment Mission
On February 22, Karol G celebrated Con Cora’s inaugural benefit charity gala, Con Cora Land. The event, held at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, supported her foundation’s Casa Con Cora initiative. This program elevates values in Latin culture and empowers women to pursue their dreams. It provides a safe space for personal, professional, artistic, and creative growth, as well as psychological and legal support.
Celebrating Latin Culture and Colombian Women-owned Brands
Karol met the moment wearing a green dress that recreated the palm-weaving pattern of traditional crafts. The rare archival piece belonged to Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring Summer 2010 couture runway, which incorporated nods to Mexico and Latin America. As the French designer explained then, “nature and ecology, and the Latin American tropics” inspired his collection.
Bridging culture and style, Karol and stylist Stephania Yepes elevated the look with accessories. The jewelry selection included bracelets, rings, and anklets from Colombian women-owned brands Tikuna and Fenomena.
“We are proud to see La Bichota wearing pieces from @tikunajewelry at the opening gala of her foundation,” Tikuna wrote on Instagram to celebrate the milestone. “We love being part of this special moment and bringing Colombian design to the world with you. Thank you, @karolg, for supporting the talent of our women.”
Colombian Gems for the World
Colombia has built a reputation among gem exporters for its vividly colored emeralds. The country’s long-held history of producing some of the purest emeralds in the world has been carefully documented. Accordingly, Colombia has fostered a strong ecosystem of emerald-focused jewelry brands.
Tikuna, founded in 2003 by designer Patricia Acosta and Fenomena, led by Alejandra Llano and Liliana Botero, were responsible for adorning Karol G. The industry has recognized these jewelers for their contemporary designs featuring high-quality Colombian emeralds. Both brands carry the “Made in Colombia” label and work with local artisans to showcase Colombian craftsmanship.
“At Fenomena, each jewel tells a unique story of dedication, creativity, and tradition,” the brand told FIERCE. “Founded 12 years ago and led by women, the brand has worked to transform the way the world sees and wears Colombian emeralds. Behind each piece are the talented hands, mainly of women, who passionately turn these stones into authentic works of art.”
The founders explained they honor the Colombian emerald “by making it feel close, accessible, and part of the daily lives of women around the world.”
“In each collection, the emerald is our protagonist. We want people to recognize Colombia as not only a supplier of emeralds but also an epicenter of creativity and design,” they added.
“Seeing Karol G wear our jewelry at the Con Cora Gala is a very special moment for Fenomena, its founder Alejandra Llano and the team, made up of 92% women. Their foundation represents female empowerment and sisterhood, values that we deeply share. Knowing that our pieces were part of an event dedicated to transforming the lives of so many women fills us with pride and reaffirms our mission: to create jewelry that not only beautifies but also tells stories of strength, authenticity, and connection,” they continued.
Supporting Latinas
Karol’s support for Latina-owned brands wasn’t limited to her red-carpet look. Con Cora Land also featured activations designed to support Latina women entrepreneurs. A market village allowed these women to network and share tools and resources to continue growing and solidifying their projects.
“When we came in and defined our mission, we knew we wanted to extend this blessing to other women because, from our position, we’ve seen firsthand how difficult it has been,” Karol G said during a speech thanking attendees. “I feel very proud, and we are going to work so that every woman at home, thinking and dreaming of something but feeling like she doesn’t have the opportunity, knows that, at the very least, we are doing something here to help them build a future for tomorrow.”
