Mia Dio, the newly crowned Miss Universe Cuba 2026, took to her social media to report that she has received death threats from Cubans who reject her for being a daughter of the diaspora, and she responded firmly from her verified Instagram account.
Just a few days after winning the crown of Miss Universe Cuba 2026 in Miami, the 25-year-old shared a bilingual story in which she drew a clear line between legitimate criticism and threats.
“Daily reminder for Cubans who hate me simply for being a product of exile: disagreement is your right. Death threats are not,” he wrote in English, adding that his family left Cuba due to a government that turned exile into the price of freedom.
In Spanish, she was just as direct: "Being a product of exile does not make me any less Cuban. You may disagree with me, but threats will never be freedom of expression."
The publication concluded with a statement that summarizes its vision: "The Cuba I dream of has space for everyone, including those who think differently."
The controversy surrounding Mia Dio —whose full name is Mia Angelina Donadio Cancio— is not new. Born in Miami, the daughter of a Cuban mother and an Argentine father, she represented the Isle of Youth among 19 finalists and won the crown on August 20, although the moment was overshadowed by shouts of "fraud!" that a man yelled from the audience and which went viral on social media.
Her family heritage makes her a symbol of historical exile: she is the granddaughter of José "Pepe" Cancio, a veteran of Brigade 2506 of the Bay of Pigs, and a relative of Sylvia Iriondo, a figure in the M.A.R. por Cuba organization.
On Monday, Mia Dio had already sparked debate by clarifying that the gesture of "L" with her fingers while receiving the crown was intentional: it meant "L for Liberty", she explained. That same day, singer and activist Beatriz Luengo publicly expressed her support.
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