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Daniela Reyes is leading with a significant advantage in the ranking of favorites for Miss Universe Cuba 2026, according to a list created by Missosology Cuba based on the reactions and interactions generated following the official announcement of the contestants for the pageant.
The Top 5 is rounded out by Mia Dio in second place, followed by Jelissa Gilart, Lorena Suárez, and Carolina Hernández, in that order.
Daniela Reyes, candidate number 20 in the contest, accumulated 16,600 interactions, a figure that significantly sets her apart from her closest competitors. Mia Dio came in second place with 6,500 interactions, while Jelissa Gilart totaled 1,700, Lorena Suárez 1,200, and Carolina Hernández 650.
Daniela Reyes herself celebrated the result in her Instagram stories, where she shared the ranking and expressed her gratitude to her supporters. "THANK YOU FOR COMMENTING ON EVERY POST! Your support truly moves me!! Thank you for being with me. I promise to give my best to live up to and represent CUBA!!!," wrote the candidate.
Her journey to the pageant was highly anticipated. On April 20, she posted on Instagram that "something big is about to begin," and on May 28, the makeup artist Eugenio Rodríguez publicly confirmed that she was "on her way to Miss Universe Cuba 2026."
Mia Dio, whose real name is Mia Angelina Donadio Cancio, returns to the competition after a remarkable performance in the previous edition. In Miss Universe Cuba 2025, she represented Isla de la Juventud, reached the Top 5 in the final held on July 8, 2025, in Hialeah, Florida, and was awarded the title of Miss Popularity, all despite having suffered facial paralysis prior to the final gala. Her story of resilience made her one of the most followed figures in the competition.
The contest kicked off with an in-person casting in Miami on April 17, where over 100 candidates presented themselves to compete for one of the 22 official spots. The organization, based in Miami, manages the competition from the Cuban community in exile.
The Miss Universe Cuba 2026 final is scheduled for July in Miami. The winner will represent Cuba at Miss Universe 2026, set to take place in November in Puerto Rico.
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