Take a look at Miss Universe Cuba 2025, where a Miami native was crowned
By Matias Ocner and
Sarah Moreno
Miss Universe Cuba has a new queen named Lina Luaces, a 22-year-old model born in Miami, who comes from Cuban-American royalty. Luaces represented Santiago de Cuba, the city where her mother, Univision host Lili Estefan, and her uncle, music producer and businessman Emilio Estefan, were born.
The Miss Universe Cuba 2025 gala was hosted by Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, and Carlos Adyan of Puerto Rico, host of “En Casa con Telemundo.”
The ceremony also paid tribute to the outgoing queen, Marialena Ancheta, the first Miss Universe Cuba in 57 years, who represented Cubans in Miss Universe 2024. She was in charge of crowning Luaces, who will also be the queen of the celebrations for the centennial of the city of Hialeah.
Take a look at images from Miss Universe Cuba 2025.
Miss Universe Cuba 2024 Marianela Ancheta dances on stage during the opening ceremony of the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Miss Universe Cuba 2024 Marianela Ancheta dances on stage during the opening ceremony of the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Stefany Parli, representing Sancti Spíritus, walks the stage as she competes in the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Contestants walk the stage as they compete in the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Lina Luaces, representing Santiago de Cuba, walks the stage as she competes in the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Miss Universe Peru 2024 Tatiana Calmell del Solar waves to the crowd during the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Singer Emily Estefan holds a photo of Lina Luaces during the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Cuban-American model and TV show host Lili Estefan holds a photo of her daughter, Lina Luaces, during the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Mia Donadio, representing Isla de la Juventud, walks the stage as she competes in the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Indiana Williams, representing La Habana, walks the stage as she competes in the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Claudia Fernández, representing Matanzas, walks the stage as she competes in the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Sheila Laza, representing Región Central, walks the stage as she competes in the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Vanessa Villareal, representing Región Oriente, walks the stage as she competes in the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Deneb Morales, representing Villa Clara, walks the stage as she competes in the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
From left to right: Vanessa Villareal, representing Región Oriente, Lisbeth Fernández, representing Pinar del Río, Lina Luaces, representing Santiago de Cuba, Sheila Laza, representing Región Central, and Mia Donadio, representing Isla de la Juventud, stand on stage as they are the five finalists during the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Lina Luaces (right), representing Santiago de Cuba, the birthplace of her mother, Lili Estefan, and uncle, Emilio Estefan, joyfully welcomes the announcement that she won the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 pageant, alongside first runner-up Lisbeth Fernández (Pinar del Río), at Milander Park in Hialeah on July 8. Fotos de Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Lina Luaces, right, representing Santiago de Cuba, reacts after winning the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Lina Luaces, representing Santiago de Cuba, is crowned after winning the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Lina Luaces, center, representing Santiago de Cuba, is crowned by Marianela Ancheta after winning the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Lina Luaces, center, representing Santiago de Cuba, is crowned by Marianela Ancheta after winning the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Miss Universe Cuba 2024 Marianela Ancheta, right, kisses Lina Luaces after winning the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Lina Luaces waves to the crowd after winning and being crowed Miss Universe Cuba 2025 during the beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Miss Universe Cuba 2025 Lina Luaces, representing Santiago de Cuba, is photographed after winning the beauty pageant during the competition at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Lina Luaces, center, is hugged by all the contestants after she being crowned Miss Universe Cuba 2025 during the beauty pageant at Milander Park on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published July 9, 2025 at 10:09 AM.
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