A Cuban woman living in the United States took to social media to express her disappointment and frustration after attending the recent Miss Universe Cuba pageant held in Miami. In a widely circulated video, the social media user Yaki criticized the event for its disorganization, lack of respect towards attendees, and apparent favoritism.
She had attended to support two friends—contestants representing Ciego de Ávila and Villa Clara—and described the pageant as "the worst organized" one she had ever been to. According to her account, despite paying for her seat, her assigned spot was not respected, and she was forced to give her husband's reserved seat to another guest, known as the Dominican influencer Chiky Bombom. "They didn't care who paid and who didn't; they sat everyone wherever they wanted," she stated, visibly upset.
Yaki also criticized the logistics of the event, pointing out issues with screen visibility, disorganization in audience seating, and what seemed like improvisation in handling the families and friends of the contestants. "You couldn't see anything. The screens were just for show," she remarked, comparing her live experience unfavorably to the television broadcast, which she considered "the best those who didn't attend could have hoped for."
Moreover, she voiced her dissatisfaction with the pageant results. While she accepted that her friend from Ciego de Ávila didn't make it to the Top 10 due to being one of the last qualifiers, she found it unjust that the representative from Villa Clara was not among the top five finalists. She questioned how "Miss Cristiana" (Lisbeth Fernández from Pinar del Río) reached the final stage, implying there was favoritism and a lack of transparency in the selection criteria.
In conclusion, she vowed never to attend another Miss Universe Cuba pageant in Miami, warning others about what she described as an "expensive and poorly organized" event, with a half-empty auditorium and an experience that fell short of expectations.
On a different note, Lina Luaces, representing Santiago de Cuba, was crowned as the new Miss Universe Cuba on Tuesday, outshining 15 other candidates from across the nation in a gala filled with glamour, elegance, and excitement. During the event, the 16 contestants showcased their poise, charisma, and confidence in swimsuit and evening gown segments. Several sponsors awarded individual prizes to the participants.
Lina Luaces, daughter of Cuban presenter Lili Estefan and niece of the famous couple Emilio and Gloria Estefan, will now represent Cuba at the 74th edition of Miss Universe, scheduled for November 21, 2025, at the Impact Arena in Pak Kret, Thailand.
Understanding the Miss Universe Cuba Controversy
What were the main complaints about the Miss Universe Cuba pageant?
Attendees criticized the event for poor organization, disrespect towards paid attendees in terms of seating arrangements, and apparent favoritism in the selection process.
Who won the Miss Universe Cuba pageant?
Lina Luaces, representing Santiago de Cuba, won the title and will represent Cuba at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand.
Why did Yaki feel the pageant was unfair?
Yaki believed there was favoritism and a lack of transparency in the judging, as she felt qualified contestants were unfairly excluded from the top positions.