Did you hear the news? Cuba is taking part in the 2024 Miss Universe pageant for the first time in 57 years.
Just weeks before the Miss Universe competition takes place at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, with the whole world watching, 31-year-old Contestant Marianela Ancheta’s won the title Miss Universe Cuba. She competed against 23 other Cuban women and was crowned at the historic pageant held at the Milander Center in Hialeah, Fla. Her personal victory quickly became a symbol of new possibilities for Cuban women around the world.
In an interview on the show En Casa Con Telemundo, Ancheta talked about the dawn of the “New Cuban woman,” a time when women from the island can once again dream to be represented at the international Miss Universe pageant.
“Just the idea of bringing this joy to Cubans, and that even at my age, we can participate — that inclusion is incredible!” she said.
Marianela Ancheta Wins Miss Universe Cuba
Marianela represents millions of Cuban women who have faced limited opportunities, often leaving the communist nation in search of better lives for themselves and their families.
"How exciting that my country returns to participate in Miss Universe. Greetings from Cuba," @aliciaserrano3726 comments on YouTube.
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Marianela, who came to the United States at age 13, says she crossed the border with her mother. And, through hard work and determination, she turned her dreams into reality.
But Ancheta’s journey wasn’t easy. “I came to the United States at the age of 13 with my mom,” she tells People en Espanol. “We crossed the border through Mexico. Mexico opened the doors for all these things that are happening to me today. It opened the doors for me to come to this country and achieve so many dreams. It was very hard for me and my mom because we didn’t have any family in the United States, and we had to work a lot.”
Ancheta worked hard throughout her teen years. “At 13, I helped my mom clean the floors of a bank. … while I was still in high school, cleaning the bathrooms of a pharmacy.”
Things soon changed, and Ancheta started working in the modeling world and eventually became an entrepreneur, creating her own skincare line called Arma Face.
From Small Town to World Stage
Now, with this win, she’s putting Cuba on the map — showing the world the power of a new generation of Cuban women.
From a small town in Cuba to the world stage, Marianela Ancheta’s story is just about beauty, empowerment, representation, and inspiration. She’s paving a future where all Cuban women can achieve their dreams.
However, with the inclusion comes new challenges, like being an underdog. She explains: “I need to practice public speaking and runway skills because, in Miss Universe, there are many women who are well-prepared. We Cuban women don’t yet have the experience that other countries have—the tradition, exactly. So, we have to prepare three times as hard. We don’t have much time, but we’ll do it!”
