Miss Universe Cuba is back, and hundreds of women of Cuban heritage want the title
Many women of Cuban heritage have responded and want to participate in a Miss Universe Cuba competition after a Miami-based franchise said it will select a woman to represent Cuba, who pulled out of the Miss Universe contest in 1960.
Aleida Josefa Perez said she was 5 years old when her mother told her she was as beautiful as Miss Universe.
However, the pageant regular — she recently participated in the Miss Earth contest — did not see a place for herself on that world stage until this year, when Miss Universe Cuba relaunched in her hometown of Miami.
Now, Perez, whose identity is tied to her Cuban accent and her family only 90 miles away on the island, has put herself in the running to be selected as Miss Cuba. She'll get to participate in the Miss Universe competition later this year in Mexico City.
Aleida Josefa Perez.Courtesy Aleida Josefa PerezAfter Miss Cuba announced its return to Miss Universe on social media in April, the organization has fielded about 1,000 applications from women like Perez, hoping to represent Cuba after decades of absence from the world’s largest beauty pageant.
“A lot of people don’t understand that exact feeling of when it’s your turn to call out your country,” Perez said, who showcased her heritage in the Miss Earth contest. “So for me, screaming ‘Cuba!’ was such an honor, and it would be an honor to do it once again.”
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