Cubana Becomes Teen Universe

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

A young Cuban woman won first place in the Miss Teen Universe pageant that took place over the weekend in Nicaragua.

Miss Cuba , Melanie Cruz, managed to be crowned after defeating the finalists of Mexico, Allison Robert, and the Dominican Republic, Kristy Gonzáles.

"It means a great achievement within my modeling career and in my personal life," Cruz told the Nicaraguan newspaper El Nuevo Diario. “Teen Universe challenged me to do things that I was not used to and I was able to overcome some fears. I am more than happy to be the new Miss Teen Universe 2018.”

The new beauty queen is originally from Matanzas, Cuba, but since she was 4 years old she lives in Orlando, Florida, where she is in the ninth grade. After this triumph, she said that she intends to continue with the modeling career that began a couple of years ago.

"I feel super proud," added the young woman, who was crowned Miss Cuba last August at age 15. "It is a new experience, since it is my first contest on an international level and I am starting to get to know new countries and people as well."

Cruz prepared herself for almost a year for this contest and considers that the factors that gave her the victory were "being myself, authentic, not trying to imitate anyone and, above all, enjoying it".

In addition to studying and working as a model, the teenager collaborates with an organization that supports children with motor disabilities.

"It is extremely important to maintain a balance between my responsibilities as queen and my classes," she concluded.