It's one of the biggest questions buzzing across social media this Miss Universe season: why are there five contestants with U.S. ties competing in the same pageant, and is that even allowed?
The debate ignited after fans realized that five women: Miss USA Alana Jones, Miss Latina Yamilex Hernández, Miss Ecuador Nadia Mejía, Miss Cuba Lina Luaces, and Miss Nicaragua Itza Castillo, are all either U.S.-born, U.S.-based, or representing territories deeply connected to the United States.
As the 2025 Miss Universe competition heats up in Bangkok, the controversy has raised questions about fairness, nationality rules, and the increasingly global nature of modern pageantry.
Who Are the Four Contestants With U.S. Roots?
Miss USA – Alana Jones
A Harvard-educated ballerina from New York, Jones officially represents the United States. She's one of the top favorites this year and the only delegate competing directly under the U.S. flag.
Miss Latina – Yamilex Hernández
Representing the Latina community of the United States, Hernández was selected through Telemundo's Miss Universe Latina reality show. Born in Texas to Dominican parents, she embodies the identity of U.S.-based Latinas, a growing demographic that now has its own seat on the Miss Universe stage.
Miss Cuba – Lina Luaces
A Miami-born model and daughter of TV star Lili Estefan, Luaces is representing Cuba in Miss Universe 2025, marking the island's return after more than 50 years of absence. Her Cuban-American background has sparked conversation about diaspora representation and cultural authenticity.
Miss Nicaragua – Itza Castillo
While crowned Miss Universe Nicaragua, Castillo has spent much of her life in the U.S. and is currently based in Florida. Her case highlights the common practice of international contestants who live abroad but hold citizenship in the country they represent.
Miss Ecuador- Nadia Mejía
California-born Nadia Mejía is the daughter of singer Gerardo, better know for his 1991 hit "Rico Suave." She participated in the Miss USA pageant and Miss Ecuador 2024, until getting the crown this year to represent her father's country.
So, Is It Legal?
Yes, under the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) rules, each delegate must be a citizen, permanent resident, or have legal ties (through parents or lineage) to the country or community they represent. "It's like the (soccer) World Cup," said Miss Universe presenter and Telemundo star Danilo Carrera. "Many players play for the team of their nationalized country, their birth country or the country of their ancestors."
"That flexibility allows for dual nationals and diaspora contestants to compete, reflecting the modern reality that millions of people live outside their countries of origin," added Jessica Carrillo, presenter of Telemundo 'Al Rojo Vivo,' who is in Thailand covering the pageant".
"Miss Universe has always celebrated diversity and identity," added Carlos Aydán, hots of 'En Casa con Telemundo'. "As long as a contestant can legally prove her connection to the country, by birth, heritage, or residency, she's eligible to represent it."
This means all five U.S.-linked contestants are perfectly within the rules.
But Is It Fair?
That depends on who you ask. Critics argue that multiple contestants with U.S. upbringing, especially those trained by U.S. pageant systems, may have an advantage in production experience, English fluency, and media exposure.
Fans on TikTok and Reddit have called it "the Miss Universe USA multiverse," suggesting that the lines between national representation and global branding are becoming increasingly blurred.
Others, however, see it as a natural evolution of the pageant world. "This isn't unfair. It's real life," expressed former Miss Mexico and Miss Universo host Jaqueline Bracamontes. "Latinas born in the U.S. are just as Latina as anyone else. They're showing what the modern diaspora looks like."
Pageant historians note that this trend isn't new: in past years, delegates for Miss Puerto Rico, Miss Canada, and Miss Australia were also born in the U.S.
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