A Colombian fashion designer of Italian descent has been named Brand Ambassador for authentic Neapolitan pizza in Latin America, becoming the first woman in the region to receive this honor. Andrea Bornacelli, 38, and her partner, Alejandro Sardi, began making pizza for fun ten years ago. While traveling to Europe for work, their passion turned into a business idea. They explored which flavors to bring to Colombia and eventually earned certification from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN), which certifies pizzerias that preserve the traditional Neapolitan pizza recipe and preparation methods. "The process was long, but we succeeded," says Andrea, speaking from Pizzardi Artigianale, their pizzeria in Bogota, which opened in September 2023. "It's a huge source of pride for me and for women in Colombia," she adds, noting that the industry is traditionally male-dominated. With no prior experience in pizza-making, Andrea emphasizes that success doesn't require decades in the field. After receiving also the Eccellenze Italiane award for the second year, she hopes to rank among Latin America's top 50. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES