A Cuban content creator living in Spain has managed to encapsulate, in just over a minute, the profound anguish felt by millions of her compatriots scattered across the globe: the heartache of leaving their homeland, the fragmentation of families, and the helplessness in the face of a regime that stifles dissent.
Lesyanis Portilla (@lesyanisportilla) shared a video on TikTok on June 16, filled with unanswered questions she admits have haunted her for years. "Do you know how many times I've asked myself, why? Why did I have to pack all my memories, my childhood, into a suitcase and emigrate?" she begins in the emotional video.
Portilla reflects on the losses that accompanied her departure: her mother, daughter, grandmother, and siblings, all left behind in Cuba. "Why did I have to leave a country because of a dictatorship?" she asks, her voice trembling with emotion.
She also touches on the stigma that follows her every introduction abroad. "Why does saying you're Cuban sound like misery? Why does every interaction start with, 'How is Cuba? How is your country? The Cubans must be strong?'"
The question she asks repeatedly in the video is "How long?" "How long must we endure the distance? How long must we suffer hardship, misery, need?" Portilla cries out, seeking answers that never come.
The video concludes with a direct indictment of the regime: "Why did I have to leave my island because of a dictator who doesn't even let me raise my voice for freedom?"
The closing sentiment of the video captures the essence of an entire generation forced into exile: "I don't know if you ask yourself the same, but it's a feeling I can't explain. And it hurts to be Cuban, it hurts."
Portilla boasts 234,500 followers on TikTok and has garnered 2.3 million likes, and this is not the first time her words have resonated with the diaspora. In December 2025, she went viral with a video from Spain debunking the myth of "free education" in Cuba, and in August of that year, she explained that she emigrated because the island "not only took away my food," but also denied her access to things offered to tourists in her own country.
The Broader Context of Cuban Migration
Her video is part of a growing trend among the Cuban diaspora using TikTok to collectively process the pain of migration: airport farewells, years-long separations, and heartfelt testimonies that resonate with thousands of compatriots around the world.
The backdrop to this pain is dire. Between 2021 and 2024, over 1.79 million Cubans fled the island, marking the largest exodus in the nation's history. By 2025, the resident population dropped to 9.6 million, with more than 25% of those remaining being 65 years or older, reflecting the accelerated aging due to the youth exodus.
In 2024 alone, an estimated 545,011 Cubans left, and in the first four months of 2026, Cubans accounted for 58% of all asylum applications in Brazil, surpassing Venezuelans for the first time. Portilla's closing words—"it hurts to be Cuban, it hurts"—echo the collective sorrow built up over decades of dictatorship.
Understanding the Cuban Diaspora's Pain
Why do many Cubans feel the need to leave their country?
Many Cubans leave due to the oppressive regime, lack of freedom, and economic hardships. The dictatorship stifles dissent, and the country faces significant economic challenges, prompting many to seek better opportunities abroad.
How has the Cuban population changed due to migration?
The exodus has led to a significant decrease in the resident population, which fell to 9.6 million by 2025. The demographic is aging rapidly as young people flee, leaving a higher percentage of elderly individuals on the island.
What role does TikTok play for the Cuban diaspora?
TikTok serves as a platform for the Cuban diaspora to share their experiences, process the pain of migration, and connect with others who have similar stories. It allows them to voice their struggles and seek solidarity in a supportive community.