Who is Giselle Rosales, the Cuban Crowned as Miss Ecuador 2025?

Giselle Rosales, originally from Cuba, made headlines in August by winning the Miss Ecuador 2025 pageant, sparking diverse reactions throughout the South American nation. Having relocated to Ecuador at the age of 7, Rosales was granted Ecuadorian citizenship by presidential decree on September 17. This enables her to represent Ecuador in the Miss International 2026 competition, according to local media reports.

At 21 years old, Giselle Rosales, the newly crowned Miss Ecuador, has lived in the city of San Antonio de Machala since she emigrated from Cuba with her mother and uncles at a young age. As noted by local outlet Primicias, Rosales has been involved in beauty pageants from an early age. Her career in modeling took off when she won the Fashion Weekend Ecuador as a teenager, paving the way for her success in modeling, runway shows, and beauty contests.

Standing at 1.69 meters with striking green eyes, Rosales previously claimed the title of Queen of Machala in 2022. Academically, she is pursuing studies in Psychology and Education. Thanks to the decree by Daniel Noboa, she will represent Ecuador at the Miss International pageant in Tokyo.

"I've never pretended to have been born in Ecuador. That's not true, and there's no point in lying... I’ve been living here since I was 7, and I'm currently 21," Rosales told another Ecuadorian media outlet, addressing the controversy that has often surrounded her achievements.

Rosales openly shared that her move to Ecuador was driven by the search for a "better life and better job opportunities," acknowledging the hardships faced in many countries, including her native Cuba.