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Lisbeth Fernández, a 28-year-old Cuban-American residing in Pinecrest, Miami, will compete this Sunday in the Miss Florida USA 2026 pageant with the hope of reaching the national stage and becoming the face of two worlds: Cuba and the United States.
According to a report from the newspaper Miami Herald, Fernández holds the title of Miss Pinecrest USA and is competing this weekend in the contest at the Linda W. Chapin Theater of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
Her journey to this competition began on July 8, 2025, when she finished as the first runner-up of Miss Universe Cuba 2025, held at the Milander Amphitheater in Hialeah.
The crown went to Lina Luaces, but Fernández left that stage with something that, according to her, is equally valuable: "Experience, maturity, and confidence."
The winner of the state pageant will represent Florida at Miss USA, which this year celebrates its 75th anniversary on August 27 at the Adrienne Arsht Center in downtown Miami.
Fernández decided to take the leap to Miss USA to share her "complete" story: that of a woman born in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río, who grew up in the United States and forged her identity between two cultures.
"My roots are Cuban, but this country has given me wings," declared the young woman, who works as a speaker in several Latin American countries and intends to use the platform of the competition to amplify her message of leadership.
Her profile goes far beyond the realms of beauty. Fernández holds a degree in Theology from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, studies Government Intelligence at Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia), and speaks English, Spanish, and Italian. She describes herself as "a daughter of God, entrepreneur, and international speaker."
She was also the first openly Christian Cuban candidate —of the Baptist faith— to participate in Miss Universe Cuba, which sparked extensive debate about the compatibility between faith and beauty pageants.
Her vision for the future reaches even further than any crown. "I am a woman with a forward-looking perspective in International Relations and Diplomacy, which is why I study Government and intelligence. One of my professional goals is to serve my country as an ambassador or diplomat, perhaps in the not-too-distant future," she stated.
Regarding the possibility of competing in Miss USA in Miami, Fernández considers it something "very special and symbolic." "There is nothing that represents this city better than a Cuban-American," he said, adding: "Miami is not just my home; it is the most dynamic city in the United States, especially right now. It is multicultural, vibrant, and connected to the American dream."
During Miss Universe Cuba 2025, Fernández also delivered a speech about the 11J outbreak, in which she stated that the Cuban people "are ready to stop surviving and start living," words that resonated widely.
"A beauty queen is not defined solely by her appearance or pretty face, but by her character, her comprehensive training in communication, and above all, by her ability to represent something greater than herself," declared Fernández.
The national pageant will have an exceptional stage. Thom Brodeur, executive director of Miss USA since September 2025 and a native of Miami, explained that the city is "literally home" to the event and committed the organization to hosting Miss USA and Miss Teen USA in Miami for at least five years.
Miss Teen USA will take place on August 26 and Miss USA on August 27, both at the Arsht Center, airing live on The CW from 8 to 10 p.m. (Eastern Time) and available for streaming the following day on The Roku Channel.
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