Lina Luaces, daughter of renowned TV host Lili Estefan, has been crowned Miss Universe Cuba 2025 and will represent the country at the 74th edition of Miss Universe, which this year will be held in Thailand.
Seventeen contestants from across Cuba took part in the national pageant, with the final held on July 8. Luaces claimed a historic victory, becoming only the second Cuban beauty queen to win the title since the country returned to the competition.
In 2024, Marianela Ancheta became Cuba’s first Miss Universe contestant in 57 years, making it into the Top 30. Now, Luaces is aiming to go even further.
Why didn’t Lina Luaces compete in Miss USA?
Although born in the United States and therefore eligible to participate in Miss Universe USA 2025, Luaces said in an interview with the pageant committee that she never truly felt American. “I knew I wanted to represent my roots – I’m Cuban, and I’m very, very proud of that,” she said.
“I grew up surrounded by Cubans – strong Cubans with powerful stories – and I absorbed their customs, their traditions, and their ways,” she added, according to a video shared by Univision. In the pageant, Luaces represented Santiago de Cuba, the same region where her mother, Lili Estefan, was born and which is closely tied to the family’s identity. Estefan is best known for her work on El Gordo y La Flaca.
#USA: Lina Luaces, the 22-year-old model and niece to Gloria Estefan, was crowned Miss Universe Cuba 2025 on Tuesday, July 8, during a glitzy ceremony in Hialeah, Florida, the heart of the Cuban-American community. pic.twitter.com/KNJHJ1GVyO
— CaribbeanNewsNetwork (@caribbeannewsuk) July 9, 2025
In a post shared in June, Luaces reflected on the personal journey that led her to the title. “A few months ago, when I decided to begin this path, I didn’t understand much. Overnight, thanks to the guidance of my organization, I started to grasp this world that once seemed so difficult,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I wanted to share all this to give you a glimpse into the internal and external process I’ve been going through. Every day I feel more certain that these changes are helping me represent my Cuban roots with love, humility, and dignity. Thank you all for your support and affection – and even those who didn’t support me, I thank you too. In one way or another, you helped me see things I hadn’t seen before,” she added.
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