Mia Dio crowned Miss Universe Cuba 2026 after overcoming major obstacles: ‘I’ve been through a lot’

At first, I thought I was going to be much more nervous because you only have a few seconds to showcase months of preparation. During the preliminary competition, I was definitely nervous. Maybe I still have some work to do on my runway walk, but I just wanted to get to the microphone because I knew speaking and communicating were my strengths. I was eager to connect with the audience so they could really see who I am.

A lot of people didn't think I would make it to the top. They didn't see me as the winner, but in my heart, I felt like this was my year.

My performance that night speaks for itself. Yes, there are people who have questioned the results. There was something that happened behind the scenes where my director, Mr. Prince Julio César, asked each judge individually what they thought about every contestant and who had won them over during the final questions. I received the majority of the votes.

At that moment, I felt like I was going to faint because I was trying to stay composed, in full pageant mode, standing there like a mannequin, looking perfect and polished with amazing hair. But when I heard that, I felt like all the work and everything I had sacrificed to reach that point had been worth it.

It was incredible to realize that maybe it wasn't my runway walk, my face, or my height that captivated people. It was the way I expressed myself.

Well, today I woke up as a queen! Honestly, I didn't sleep last night, and I still have to sit down with the organization to properly plan what the next few months will look like. But I'm incredibly happy and excited to begin training.

If I was able to overcome this huge challenge and become Miss Universe Cuba on my own, literally studying by myself, paying for everything out of my own pocket, and balancing it with my social media career, I can't imagine how far I can go now that I have the support of an organization that knows how to prepare a queen and understands that the goal is to shine on the Miss Universe stage.

After I didn't win last year, I had to reflect and ask myself, "Do I try again?" As the weeks went by, I started asking myself what scared me more: trying again, or being left wondering what could have happened if I didn't pursue this dream because I was worried about what people might say.

Last year, maybe I didn't strengthen my Spanish public-speaking skills as much as I needed to. It bothered me to feel like I wasn't able to communicate as well as I wanted because I knew how many ideas I had in my mind.

I'm a perfectionist, which can be both a weakness and a strength, but I felt like I still had so much more to give. This was a challenge I wanted to conquer.

Being able to answer the final question the way I did made me feel like a winner, with or without the crown, because I proved my discipline, my commitment to my people, and my ability to communicate.

Last year, when I entered the Miss Universe Cuba competition, they taught us that being a beauty queen is about much more than having a pretty face, perfectly styled hair with extensions, or wearing an incredible crown. It's about being a voice for your people. I see that as my greatest purpose, my reason for being here.

My grandfather, José "Pepe" Cancio, is a veteran of Brigade 2506, which participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion. His cousin, Silvita Iriondo, was part of the activist group Brothers to the Rescue. She survived the 1996 attacks. Imagine all the conversations we've had as a family, sitting around the table eating Cuban food.

When I think about my identity, I have never questioned my Cuban roots. I have never doubted that part of my purpose is to contribute, in whatever way I can, toward change.

I want to use every platform available to me to bring attention to the situation in Cuba while also highlighting our culture, our food, and the human side of our shared dream of seeing a free Cuba filled with opportunities.

I competed alongside 19 women, and that represents 19 shared dreams. I truly believe every one of them is deserving of a crown because they have all grown so much, and the competition was always respectful and fair.

We constantly supported one another. If I needed a safety pin, I could ask one of them. I even lent my shoes to contestants whose own shoes hadn't arrived. We know how to compete while still supporting each other, and that's something really beautiful.

As Cuban women, we understand the importance of supporting our community, especially when we share the goal of representing our homeland on the Miss Universe stage.

It's not about competing against one another. It's about challenging ourselves to grow and become worthy representatives of Cuban culture, glamour, and beauty.

These are incredibly accomplished women with powerful stories, as you've already seen. I also want to highlight Miss Granma, Dayana Leyva, who speaks several languages and is such a well-rounded woman. Honestly, I could talk about every single contestant, but we wouldn't have enough time.

Lina is spectacular. During last year's competition, I noticed how incredibly focused she was. She was always studying, and that's something I really admire about her.

We also have similar backgrounds in that I was born in Miami and I'm more fluent in English. She inspired me because if she could accomplish what she did, win over an entire country, and then proudly represent Cuba by placing among the top contestants at Miss Universe, I know I'm here to continue that legacy and do it in the best way possible.

Lina did an incredible job. Marianela Ancheta did as well, and I'm extremely grateful to be part of this chapter in the history of Cuban beauty.

Now that I'm 25, which might not sound very old to some people, I feel like I've already lived through a lot.

At first, I thought success was defined by financial comfort. But after reaching a certain point, I realized that success is about finding happiness in the simple, everyday moments.

It's remembering that life is the most precious gift God has given us. We don't have to wait for something extraordinary to give our lives meaning, and we don't need to wait for a sign or a specific moment before fighting for our dreams.

I did it last night. I achieved what I set out to do.

For me, success isn't necessarily this crown. It's the performance I gave, the work I put in, and the effort it took to reach my goal.