MEXICO CITY — Miss Universe Cuba caused a splash in her national costume on the preliminary night of Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico.
Marianela Ancheta wore an outfit inspired by the Yoruba goddess of love and beauty Oshún, which is also identified with the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, patron saint of Cuba, in the Thursday night competition.
Ancheta stunned in a yellow dress with gold sparkles, fitted around the torso with a gladiator-style bustier, which extended into a tight collar around the neck.
The most spectacular part of the outfit, created by Venezuelan designer Dan Rojas, was the crown, conceived as a large hat with details of sunflowers — the flower given as an offering to Oshún — with a texture that imitates natural fibers, a tribute to the yarey hat of Cuban farmers.
Another significant detail of the outfit’s styling is that Ancheta was barefoot, which gave her lightness of movement compared to the other contestants, who mostly wore high heels.
Marianela Ancheta, Miss Universe Cuba, llevó un traje amarillo dorado con una corona de girasoles inspirado en Oshún y la virgen de la Caridad del Cobre en el desfile de la noche preliminar de Miss Universo 2024, el 14 de noviembre en Ciudad de México.
This touch of informality, which also allowed her legs to be seen through the deep slits up the side of the dress, also refers to the goddess Oshún and her essence as queen of the rivers. It was also a bold design choice that no details of the dress included red, blue or white, the colors of the Cuban flag.
Ancheta is the first woman to represent Cubans in 57 years, when Fidel Castro decided that Cuba would no longer participate in beauty contests.
“That crown belongs to Cuba,” promised Ancheta upon winning Miss Universe Cuba on September 26 in Hialeah.
The Cuban queen, born in Ranchuelo, Villa Clara, told el Nuevo Herald before leaving for the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico that she lit a candle to “what she was going to wear.”
“Oshún is seen as a maternal, kind and protective deity, but she can also be strong and firm when necessary,” Ancheta wrote on her Instagram profile.
“For many Cubans, Oshún also represents the ability to overcome difficulties with grace and resilience, qualities that many people associate with the Cuban spirit. Her traditional colors are yellow and gold, and she is said to like honey, pumpkin and cinnamon,” Ancheta added.
The preliminary night also featured the highly anticipated swimsuit competition. Ancheta wore a dark blue suit with a deep neckline and crossed straps, which made her stand out from the contestants in bikinis.
But Ancheta did not win the title of Miss Universe 2024. That distinction went to Victoria Kjær Theilvig, 21, of Denmark, the first Dane to win the competition. On Saturday night, she bested more than 120 contestants to win the annual beauty pageant, which was held in Mexico City.
Chidimma Adetshina of Nigeria finished as first runner-up and Maria Fernanda Beltran of Mexico was named second runner-up. Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand and Ileana Marquez Pedroza of Venezuela followed, CNN reported.
By SARAH MORENO/Miami Herald
