Daniela Reyes is entering the final stretch of Miss Universe Cuba: "The moment has arrived for me to sit down in front of the jury."

The Cuban model and influencer Daniela Reyes experienced one of the most pivotal moments of her journey towards the crown this Friday: her private interview with the judges of Miss Universe Cuba 2026, a stage that assesses intelligence, empathy, and personal development beyond physical appearance.

The candidate announced it with excitement on her Instagram account, where she has over a million followers: "The moment has finally come for me to sit in front of the jury and share a little more about myself, my story, and everything that has brought me to this point."

The post, featuring a photoshoot in a gold sequin and crystal dress in a colonial-style building, garnered thousands of likes and hundreds of comments within just a few hours.

Her followers were very vocal this Friday. "Today many will fall in love with you, with your talent, with your education, with your authenticity and simplicity, with the special person you are. A miss 24/7," wrote one of them. Another summed up the general sentiment: "All the candidates have worked hard and are absolutely beautiful, but Daniela has given us maximum content since the contest began. Your effort, dedication, and beauty have been evident. You deserve that crown."

The day before, Daniela had already hinted at the start of the final stretch with another impeccable visual delivery—wearing a multicolored dress against a tropical backdrop—and a message that captured her mood: "Ready, focused, and more excited than ever for the days that lie ahead... I want to live every moment, enjoy the journey, and give my all."

The grand finale of the pageant is scheduled for August 20 at the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center in Cutler Bay, south of Miami, preceded by a preliminary gala on August 18. The winner will represent Cuba at Miss Universe 2026, whose final will take place on November 24 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Daniela Reyes reaches this stage as one of the audience's favorites among the group of 20 candidates presented in the Feather Fantasy Fashion Show vying for the crown.

The competition kicked off in April with over 100 candidates at an in-person casting in Miami and raised its standards with a more rigorous selection process than in previous editions, which included virtual auditions, in-person castings, and now, a private interview with the jury as a preliminary stage before the final.