Cuban teenager Jhoanna Uranga has been crowned Miss Teen International 2026 after triumphing in the grand finale held in Jaipur, India, where she faced off against contestants from over 30 countries.
Uranga captured the top honor in this prestigious youth pageant by excelling through various rounds of the competition. Contestants were judged on their presentation, confidence, and overall performance, according to reports from News9Live.
This victory marks the culmination of over three years of dedicated preparation for the young Cuban, who could not hide her joy upon receiving the crown. "I have been preparing for this for more than three years," Uranga shared, expressing that the hard work, classes, and all the effort put in have finally paid off.
She described her crowning moment as "one of my biggest dreams come true."
The international podium was completed with Chantel Boeren from Namibia taking first runner-up, Giuliana Ocariz from Paraguay as second runner-up, Andrea Almestica from the United States in third place, and Darelys Nico from the U.S. Virgin Islands as fourth runner-up.
Uranga takes over the title from Lorena Ruiz Sánchez of Spain, who won the 2025 edition.
Nikhil Anand, the president of Miss Teen International, congratulated the new queen and acknowledged that the judges faced a challenging decision due to the high caliber of the participants. He noted that the representative from India was also a strong contender for the crown.
The pageant, aimed at young women aged 13 to 19, took place in India from August 22 to 30, bringing together contestants from various corners of the globe.
Uranga's triumph adds to a series of recent successes for young Cuban women in international competitions. In August 2025, Leah Reyes became the first Cuban to win Miss Teen Earth, a pageant also held in India.
Earlier in May, Isabella Toledo claimed the Miss Teen Global 2026 title in Kuala Lumpur.
With this victory, Jhoanna Uranga brings another international crown to Cuba, realizing a dream she had been preparing for over the last three years.