By ESENDOM
July 31, 2026
Lea en español: Melissa Núñez, de La Vega, es coronada Miss República Dominicana Universo 2026
The City College of New York graduate, a psychologist, entrepreneur, and international model, will represent the country at Miss Universe on November 24 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
She returned to the pageant after finishing first runner-up in 2024, when she competed for the Dominican Community in the United States.
Her platform promotes education, mental health, entrepreneurship, and the development of Dominican youth.
The Dominican Republic has its new ambassador of beauty. Melissa Núñez, representing Concepción de La Vega, was crowned Thursday night as Miss República Dominicana Universo 2026, and will carry the country's sash to the 75th edition of Miss Universe, set for November 24 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The coronation took place on the main stage of the Eduardo Brito National Theater, in a gala marking 70 years of the pageant's modern era, one of the country's most enduring beauty competitions. Melissa received the crown from Jennifer Ventura, Miss República Dominicana Universo 2025, after advancing through a competition in which the judges weighed not only runway presence and elegance but also communication, poise, leadership, and each candidate's all-around preparation.
The win caps a journey of perseverance. Núñez was no stranger to the pageant: in 2024 she competed for the Dominican Community in the United States and finished first runner-up. Two years later she returned, this time with the sash of Concepción de La Vega, and took the national crown.
“Being a woman confident in her beauty doesn’t mean believing we are perfect. It’s walking with the certainty that we are capable, valuable, and enough.”
Her path also runs through the classroom. A native of La Vega, Núñez began studying Medicine at the Universidad Católica del Cibao (UCATECI) before moving to the United States, where she earned her degree in Psychology and Health Sciences from The City College of New York, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. She later worked in New York hospitals, caring for patients with substance-abuse disorders, and today builds a profile that blends that academic training with work as an entrepreneur, international model, and content creator.
That experience shaped the social platform she will champion during her reign. The new titleholder wants to use the visibility of Miss Universe to promote education, entrepreneurship, mental health, and opportunities for Dominican youth.
She had already signaled that message of empowerment. On June 23, through her official Instagram account, she wrote: “Being a woman confident in her beauty doesn't mean believing we are perfect. It means walking with the certainty that we are capable, valuable, and enough. A woman sure of herself doesn't make herself small to fit in, doesn't ask permission to take up her place, and doesn't let others define her potential. This journey is for all of us who dream big, lead with purpose, and understand that our true beauty begins when we decide to believe in our own power. The most important step is daring to take it. And I already have.”
In the weeks before the final, Melissa ranked among the favorites of experts and fans alike, thanks to her stage presence, her command of communication, and her international experience.
The gala brought together representatives from provinces, municipalities, and Dominican communities abroad, in a production led by Magali Febles and hosted by Caroline Aquino, Brea Frank, and Jessica Pereira. There were musical performances by Magic Juan, Dalvin La Melodía, Ebenezer Guerra, and Cecilia García, and the reigning Miss Universe, Mexico's Fátima Bosch, attended as a special guest of the anniversary. Among the finalists, the standouts came from the National District, Azua, Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Monseñor Nouel, and Samaná.
Now begins the most demanding stage: preparing for Miss Universe 2026, a pageant Puerto Rico will host for the fourth time. Núñez will look to add to a Dominican track record that already holds notable pages: Amelia Vega's historic crown in 2003, Ada Aimée de la Cruz's first-runner-up finish in 2009, and Andreína Martínez's second-runner-up finish at Miss Universe 2022.
Beyond the runway, Melissa Núñez takes on the challenge of embodying a modern image of the Dominican woman: prepared, committed to her community, and convinced that education is the most powerful tool for transforming lives.
Melissa Núñez — Quick Facts
Title: Miss República Dominicana Universo 2026, crowned Thursday, July 30, at the Eduardo Brito National Theater, on the pageant's 70th anniversary. Crowned by Jennifer Ventura, Miss RD Universo 2025.
Represented: Concepción de La Vega. (Distinct from the "La Vega" sash, which had its own candidate.)
Origin: A native of La Vega; moved temporarily to the United States to study at The City College of New York.
Education: Began studying Medicine at the Universidad Católica del Cibao (UCATECI), then completed her studies in the United States, earning a degree in Psychology and Health Sciences from The City College of New York (CCNY).
Career: Psychologist, entrepreneur, international model, and content creator.
Prior pageant: In 2024 she competed as Miss RD Comunidad USA (Dominican Community in the United States) and placed first runner-up.
Platform: Education, mental health, entrepreneurship, and the development of Dominican youth.
Next up: Will represent the country at the 75th edition of Miss Universe on November 24, 2026, at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.