By ESENDOM
July 23, 2025
Leer en español: Yamilex Hernández: Una corona para la historia dominicana
Yamilex Hernández, a Dominican woman residing in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, won the title of first “Miss Universe Latina” on Telemundo’s reality show.
She will represent the entire Hispanic/Latine community at the international Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand.
Her triumph continues the tradition of Francisca Lachapel and Clarissa Molina, confirming Dominican influence in the world of beauty.
With a trajectory marked by effort and perseverance, Yamilex becomes an emblem of overcoming and national honor.
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On the eve of July 21, 2025, millions of Latinos celebrated a new Queen: Dominican Yamilex Hernández achieved victory in Miss Universe Latina: The Reality, a competition broadcast by Telemundo that set a precedent by selecting, for the first time, the official ambassador of the Latino community for Miss Universe. However, for the Dominican diaspora, this conquest transcends a crown: it represents the consolidation of a heritage, a celebration of migratory effort, and a confirmation of the cultural and aesthetic power of Dominican women.
From Perth Amboy to the World Stage
Yamilex, 29 years old, lives in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, though her origins remain deeply rooted in Dominican territory. Born in Santiago, she emigrated to the United States when she was just 13 years old and, like many descendants of the diaspora, took on adult responsibilities from an early age, helping raise her younger siblings and forging her path in an environment that frequently obscures the aspirations of Hispanic women.
A graduate in Communication, Media and Film Studies, her foray into television and modeling was not accidental. Since 2021, Yamilex has participated in similar competitions: she was second runner-up in Miss Dominican Republic 2021, returned as first runner-up in 2023, and represented the country in Miss International 2023, held in Japan.
The Competition and Coronation
For two months, Miss Universe Latina subjected contestants to physical, emotional, and argumentative challenges, designed not only to evaluate beauty and stage presence, but also personality, intelligence, and leadership capacity. Yamilex, a member of “Team Esmeralda” led by former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, stood out for her authenticity, serenity, and emotional depth.
At the final ceremony, which combined public voting with the evaluation of a jury comprised of personalities such as Aracely Arámbula and David Salomón, Yamilex surpassed notable finalists like Génesis Dávila (Puerto Rico) and Gemmy Quelliz (also Dominican). Her intervention during the Q&A segment, where she spoke about leadership and representation, was convincing and moving.
The evening concluded with a dress created by Dominican designer Giannina Azar, an aesthetic reference to the Renaissance, and a visual emblem of what Yamilex symbolizes: a woman who respects history but builds her own story.
Continuing the Tradition of Dominican Beauty Queens
Yamilex’s success joins the heritage that other Dominican women have built in international beauty pageants.Mariasela Álvarez Lebrón es crowned Miss World 1982, while Amelia Vega won the Miss Universe 2003 pageant.
In 2015, Francisca Lachapel won Nuestra Belleza Latina, and in 2016, Clarissa Molina made history by being crowned in the VIP edition of the same pageant. Both converted that victory into media platforms, establishing themselves as central figures in Hispanic entertainment.
“Today… I did it I won Miss Universe Latina: The Reality… but this crown is not just mine. It belongs to every person who believed in me. It belongs to my country, Dominican Republic..”
Clarissa, originally from Santiago, lived her youth in New Jersey, very close to where Yamilex resides. Like Yamilex, Clarissa faced migration, uprooting, and the burden of a dual cultural identity. Currently, she stands out as a reporter at Univision and has had several acribg roles.
Yamilex recognizes that lineage of Dominican women who have paved the way. In her own words, published on her official Instagram account after being crowned, she expressed:
“Today… I did it I won Miss Universe Latina: The Reality… but this crown is not just mine. It belongs to every person who believed in me. It belongs to my country, Dominican Republic, to my people who never stopped lifting me up with their love, and to every Latino voice that shouted for me from any corner of the world.”
Beauty with a Mission
Beyond the runway, Yamilex has been vocal about her purpose: to use this platform to give visibility to stories of resilient, underestimated, and empowered women. Her personal and professional experience—between migration, family care, university studies, and pageants—establishes her as a Queen with substance, with a message and with purpose.
Yamilex’s agenda as Miss Universe Latina will include tours throughout Latin America, participation in social initiatives, and intensive preparation to represent the Latino community and the Dominican Republic at Miss Universe 2025, which will take place this November in Thailand. It’s a new chapter, but also a new showcase for Dominican talent and beauty.
An Emblem of National Pride
In a country where Dominican women have demonstrated their talent on stages as varied as baseball, television, music, and diplomacy, Yamilex Hernández’s victory arrives as a balm of inspiration. In times characterized by polarization, economic challenges, and migratory complexities, seeing a young Dominican woman rise with an international crown represents a story of hope, community, and determination.
Because Yamilex is not just the first Miss Universe Latina. She is a descendant of the diaspora, an older sister who protected her own, a student, a dreamer, a Dominican woman who—like so many—transformed sacrifice into opportunity and pain into purpose.
And if everything turns out as she hopes, this won’t be her last crown. “I’m going to fight so that this first Miss Universe Latina also becomes that Miss Universe,” she declared through tears at the final gala.
With her head held high and her soul ablaze, as she herself wrote, Yamilex now walks with a mission: to elevate her community, leave a mark, and show the world what a Dominican Queen is made of.
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