Daniela Reyes, the Cuban influencer based in Miami with over a million followers on Instagram, is going to compete for the crown of Miss Universe Cuba 2026 and shared a video that sparked an avalanche of support among the Cuban community in exile.
In the post, Reyes is seen styled with professional makeup and a dress after reflecting on the Miss Universe Cuba coronations from the last two editions, those of Marianela Ancheta and Lina Luaces. In the text accompanying the clip, she wrote: "Life has taught me that courage is not the absence of fear, but moving forward despite it, being determined, and evolving regardless of the environment. Through these two queens, I was able to believe once again that it is also possible for me to dream big. Ready to embark on this journey with the Hand of God."
The "two queens" referred to are Marianela Ancheta, Miss Universe Cuba 2024, and Lina Luaces, Miss Universe Cuba 2025, who brought Cuba back to the international competition after 57 years of absence.
The reaction from his followers was immediate and emphatic. Dozens of comments with hundreds of positive reactions agreed that Reyes's candidacy is practically a done deal.
"There’s no need for casting, she is the queen," wrote a user with 233 positive reactions.
Another comment that received 377 positive reactions captured the feelings of many: "I'm with you 1000%. You truly represent me. Born in Cuba, an immigrant, beautiful, intelligent. Represent us with your soul and carry our flag high."
A third comment, with 56 positive reactions, was even more direct: "Stop everything now. I have to listen to Daniela Reyes Cuba. It’s her; there’s no one else who can represent us."
The video was not a surprise for those who had been closely following the signals that Reyes had been leaving in recent months. On April 20, she posted "Something big is about to begin", coinciding with the start of the live casting for Miss Universe Cuba 2026. On May 28, makeup artist Eugenio Rodríguez shared a photo session with the text "Daniela Reyes road to Miss Universe Cuba," regarded as the first concrete public indication of her candidacy.
The narrative arc of her candidacy also has a symbolic moment: at the Miss Universe Cuba 2025 gala, held in July of last year, Marianela Ancheta publicly told Reyes: “I see you becoming Miss Universe Cuba one day”.
Born in Cuba on October 26, 1997, Reyes emigrated and built a career as a content creator from Miami, becoming one of the most followed Cuban influencers on social media. This story of perseverance is precisely what her followers highlight as her greatest strength in representing the Cuban diaspora.
The Miss Universe Cuba 2026 pageant is currently in the selection phase. The first in-person casting took place on April 17 in Miami with over 100 participants, and the organization aims to select 24 official contestants. Other names gaining significant attention include Mía Donadio, Carolina Roca, and Yramsi Bárcena.
The Cuban final is expected to take place in July 2026 in Miami, and the winner will represent Cuba in Miss Universe 2026, scheduled for November at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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