Five USA Contestants at Miss Universe 2025: The Rule Stirring Buzz

As the Miss Universe 2025 competition gains momentum in Bangkok, a noteworthy conversation has emerged regarding the participation of five contestants tied to the United States. The presence of these contestants has sparked debates about nationality, fairness, and the evolving landscape of global pageantry.

Meet the Five USA Contestants at Miss Universe 2025

This year, the contestants representing U.S. connections are:

• Alana Jones (Miss USA): A Harvard-educated ballerina from New York, she officially represents the United States and is a frontrunner in the competition.
• Yamilex Hernández (Miss Latina): Selected through Telemundo’s Miss Universe Latina reality show, Hernández, a Texan with Dominican heritage, represents U.S.-based Latinas.
• Lina Luaces (Miss Cuba): Born in Miami and a model, Luaces represents Cuba, marking the country’s return to the competition after a 50-year hiatus.
• Itza Castillo (Miss Nicaragua): Though crowned Miss Universe Nicaragua, Castillo has lived much of her life in the U.S. and currently resides in Florida.
• Nadia Mejía (Miss Ecuador): The California-born daughter of musician Gerardo, Mejía previously competed in Miss USA before winning the title for Ecuador.

National Representation and Legalities

The Miss Universe Organization permits contestants to represent countries they are connected to through citizenship or heritage. Their rules allow for flexibility, enabling dual nationals and those from the diaspora to compete.

Telemundo presenter Danilo Carrera likened this to international sports, where players often represent countries different from their birthplaces. Jessica Carrillo from Telemundo echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of representation and identity in pageantry.

Fairness of Participation

Opinions on fairness are divided. Critics argue that contestants with U.S. backgrounds potentially benefit from better training, language skills, and media exposure. This has led some fans on platforms like TikTok and Reddit to dub it “the Miss Universe USA multiverse.”

On the other hand, proponents argue that this reflects real-life dynamics and represents the diverse experiences of modern diasporas. Jaqueline Bracamontes, a former Miss Mexico, articulated that U.S.-born Latinas are just as deserving of representation, reinforcing the idea that tradition and evolution can coexist in pageantry.

Historically, pageantry has seen contestants from various countries born in the U.S., and this latest trend continues that legacy, underlining a shift in how national identity is perceived in global competitions.