Eneisy Rodríguez, the representative from Hialeah in Miss Universe Cuba 2026, responded to the criticisms she received during her participation in the beauty pageant.
In an interview with the host Enrique Santos, the model and media studies professor candidly discussed her weight, online harassment, and the message she aimed to convey by daring to compete in the renowned contest.
“They criticize me for my weight, for my appearance, and it frustrates me because I see this society. We live in a society where people judge without really knowing who you are as a person,” Rodríguez said.
The model is 33 years old and was the first woman to wear the Hialeah sash in the history of the competition. She advanced to the Top 18 of the final held on August 20 at the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center in Cutler Bay, Florida, despite her participation being marked from the beginning by a barrage of negative comments focused on her physical appearance.
"I hope to continue inspiring all generations to pursue their dreams and fight for their goals," Rodríguez stated on his social media.
The storm of criticism on social media
The post of the Enrique Santos show with excerpts from the interview gathered 648 comments on Instagram, many of which questioned the presence of Miss Hialeah in the competition. The negative reactions were harsh and straightforward.
Some users argued that beauty pageants demand specific physical standards and believe that participating without meeting these standards is disrespectful to other competitors who prepared with strict discipline to fit into the fashion industry's expectations.
"It's a beauty contest, not a personality contest or a heart contest," wrote one. Another compared the situation to wanting to be a basketball player without the required height: "It's simply not possible."
Several comments directly pointed to the trend of inclusion and diversity in the contests. "This is a disrespect to all the misses," wrote one.
"Next year, I can already see all the curvy girls coming to the audition," noted another, questioning whether Rodríguez's prominence surpassed that of the Top 6 finalists.
However, there were also voices on social media defending Miss Hialeah. "She didn't take anyone's place; she went and gave her best," one user responded. "I love her bravery!" wrote another.
Eneisy's words: "Even if you're not ready, it's okay to try."
Far from avoiding the topic, Rodríguez addressed it directly on the Enrique Santos show. "I'm not at the right weight and I acknowledge it. Many people think that I don't recognize it, but I'm working to be much healthier and lose weight," he stated.
Rodríguez explained that being overweight was one of the topics he discussed with the judges during the interview for the contest. Far from presenting it as a defeat, he turned his experience into the centerpiece of his message as he took to the runway.
"I entered the competition knowing that I wasn't ready. Then I understood that this is a more powerful message because you must push yourself to do things, even if you're not ready," she said.
Rodríguez described the competition stage as a period of personal growth. "If I hadn't pushed myself, I wouldn't have experienced the growth I've had over these two months. I wouldn't have met the people I've met, nor would I have the connections I received and the support from the organization that I had. Many wonderful things happened to me there."
His conclusion was straightforward: "That's the power I would say one has. Even if one isn't where they should be, that's okay."
Rodríguez thanked Enrique Santos for the invitation on his social media, as it gave him the opportunity to hold his head high with pride and face the criticism.
"I loved being able to laugh, connect, and share my journey through Miss Universe Cuba, including the challenges of cyberbullying and everything that experience taught me."
The crown of the competition was won by Mia Dio, representative of Isla de la Juventud, who will compete in Miss Universe 2026 on November 24 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
However, for thousands of Latina women, Eneisy Rodríguez is today a reference of feminine beauty that transcends the borders of Hialeah.
Filed under: