Her height is 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) and her measurements are 86-62-90, with swarthy skin and dark brown eyes.

She later began to be considered as a favorite for the crown along with the representatives from the departments of Valle and Atlántico.

On the night of the 14 of November in Cartagena She received the second best score (9.50) at the evening gown gala giving her the right to follow onto the swimsuit phase where she was named first runner-up.

The response proved to be safe and direct earning her public confidence and the jury gave her the title of National Beauty Virreina of Colombia 2011–2012, and curiously, last year Lizeth González of Magdalena (the same department Melissa represented) achieved this very same position.

Melissa represented Colombia at the Miss International 2012 in Okinawa, Japan where she placed among the 15 semi-finalists.