National costume of Miss Universe Cuba has hidden messages
Lina Luaces Estefan, Miss Universe Cuba 2025, distilled the essence of Cuba into her national costume during the Miss Universe preliminaries in Thailand — a look that blended patriotic symbolism with the exuberant spirit of Cubans on the island and in exile.
Luaces, who hopes to become the first Cuban to win the crown, created a moment that resonated with audiences on and off the island. Her costume honored both Cuba’s joyous cultural identity and its more recent struggles.
Designed by Colombian artist Randy Severiche, the ensemble centered on a fitted corset with a red, heart-shaped bodice and a high-cut design that revealed Luaces’ legs down to her tall blue boots. She carried two domino tiles — a choice she reportedly made herself — whose markings reference the July 11, 2021, protests that swept the island and led to hundreds of arrests. For political prisoners and Cubans still living under repression, the quiet symbolism offered a small gesture of solidarity.
The costume incorporated a range of motifs tied to Cuban identity, both on the island and in exile. The domino tiles also nodded to Miami’s iconic Parque del Dominó on Calle Ocho. A pair of boat oars represented the rafters who fled the island by sea. Musical instruments like the guitar and trumpet, embedded in her white-and-red feathered crown, evoked the island’s vibrant musical legacy. The white headdress paid tribute to Celia Cruz — her famous wigs, her charisma, and the “Azúcar” shout Luaces echoed as she walked.
Visually, the final look blended elements of a Tropicana showgirl with the regalia of a carnival queen. Severiche executed the concept with the precision of someone who once danced in the comparsas of Barranquilla’s carnival, and Luaces carried that festive energy with confidence.
Luaces also impressed in the swimsuit parade, wearing a red bikini designed by Venezuelan Gisselle Reyes.
Her evening gown — another red design, this one by Venezuelan Nidal Nouaihed, a specialist in dressing beauty queens — highlighted her poise and elegance. A dramatic front slit revealed one of her strongest features: her well-defined abs.
The Miss Universe final gala will be broadcast in the United on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. on Telemundo and the Peacock streaming service.
