Who is Lina Luaces, the New Miss Universe Cuba 2025?
Credit: Miss Universe/YouTube
There’s a new Miss Universe Cuba. Lina Luaces, the daughter of Lili Estefan, has been crowned the new representative for the country in the upcoming Miss Universe. The 74th Miss Universe pageant is set to take place on November 21, 2025, at the Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Cuba returned to Miss Universe after 57 years with last year’s pageant. The competition was banned on the island in 1960 due to political and financial tensions tied to a U.S. embargo against Cuba. But last year, the new Miss Universe Cuba director, Venezuelan fashion designer Prince Julio César announced the country would be returning to the competition, and later, Marianela Ancheta was chosen as Miss Universe Cuba.
Now, she passes off her crown, like countless beauty queens have done before.
Luaces is the niece of musicians and producers Emilio and Gloria Estefan and the daughter of TV presenter Lili Estefan, better known as one of the co-hosts of Univision’s daytime talk show El Gordo y la Flaca, which she has hosted with Raúl De Molina since 1998.
“I represent a generation of Cubans who learned that education and hard work are the most important credentials anyone can present. I hope to inspire children in Cuba, Miami, and the rest of the world to fight for what they want,” said the new Miss Universe Cuba, who was born and raised in the United States.
The ceremony was hosted by Puerto Rican Carlos Aydán, who leads the cast of “En Casa con Telemundo,” and Sheynis Palacio, Miss Universe 2023. The jury was composed of Mexican actress and singer Ninel Conde, stylist Maripily Rivera, former Miss Peru Anyella Grados, model Greidys Gil, executive Carlos Herrera of MegaTV, and founder of Dominican Republic Fashion Week, Melkis Díaz.
Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark will crown her successor in November. Now we know who will be representing Cuba at the pageant.
