Miss Universe Latina Yamilex Hernández shares her dreams for Miss Universe 2025

“Oh my God! It was such a special moment because before they even called my name, I was already visualizing it. I had a feeling. I don’t remember everything clearly because I haven’t had the chance to watch the final night—only little clips—but I remember that when they announced the second finalist, Gemmy from the Dominican Republic, who did an excellent job, I said to myself, ‘Wow! I’m here again.’

There was another time in 2023 when I was also standing there, holding hands, but I didn’t win. At that moment, so many thoughts ran through my head, but I don’t know, something in my little heart told me they were going to call my name this time. And just thinking about that made me start crying—like we say in the Dominican Republic—with hiccups. I was just waiting for them to call the name Yamilex Hernández. And eventually, they did.

In the video, it’s more than obvious that I put my hands to my chest and kind of fell to the floor. It really wasn’t easy, but I did it, and here I am—Miss Universe Latina.”

“It was extremely difficult. Not having contact with your family, with social media, not knowing how things were going out there, if people were supporting me. I mean, literally not knowing anything. I think something that really helped me was staying centered, connected with myself—even though it was hard—because imagine being in a mansion with cameras everywhere, in every corner; even at the school, there were cameras. I didn’t have a break to rest or connect with myself.

So what I did was, when I got back to the house at night, there was a chapel, and that was the only place without cameras. I would go to the chapel, take off my mic, start to pray, start to talk with God, talk with myself, because it was such a peaceful space. I think that helped me a lot to recharge when I wasn’t feeling well and to reconnect with myself. It was truly incredible. I’ve always been a very faithful person, but in this experience—where I was chasing a dream and where it was so hard to have that connection with yourself—this was the time I’ve felt closest to God, because He was basically the only one I had. I didn’t have anyone else—besides my fellow contestants, obviously, who I love. Thanks to them, the experience was even more special.”

“Well, the first contact was visual. I remember that on the final night, I had a hunch my family was going to come see me, but since there was a change in dates, I didn’t know if they’d be able to make it. I remember coming out on stage, and when we were about to start the final opening number, I saw my mom and dad’s faces—and my heart beat so beautifully. That was exactly what I needed that day to shine even brighter and give it my all, because my parents came to see me. I need them to feel proud.

I also saw my friends, my brother. It was a really special moment, honestly—something I don’t think will ever leave my mind.”

“Oh wow, I was just telling the girls—I haven’t fully processed it yet. It’s been something so magnificent. I feel incredibly honored to be the first. No one has ever worn this sash before, and for me, that’s a huge responsibility.

I’m going to fulfill a dream, of course—my dream—but more than that, I’m going to carry the responsibility of being a voice for so many women, so many girls, so many people in general. And I want every Latina, regardless of the country they’re from, to see themselves in me and understand that I’m here to support them, to walk with them, to tell their stories. That’s what motivates me every day and pushes me to keep working and give my very best.

I’m also anxious to start this whole preparation process for Miss Universe in Thailand. This afternoon, I’m going to talk with my team to figure out how we’re going to begin all of that, but I’m beyond excited for what’s coming.”

“Just like you said, we’re always super critical of ourselves. In general, I really beat myself up a lot—like we say in the Dominican Republic. I’m very much a perfectionist, and that’s something I’ve been working on for a long time. I’m still working on it because I don’t want it to affect me, since in reality, nothing is going to be perfect, right? I know that as a human being, I’m not perfect—and I understood that a long time ago.

I’m happy, I’m content with who I am, but there were times—like during the challenges on the show—when things didn’t turn out how I wanted. I’d say, ‘If only I had done this,’ or ‘If only I had done that.’ So I’m trying to understand that things will never go exactly how you want, but what really matters is your attitude and how you respond to all of it. Those are little things I’m working on improving—and I think I’m on a really good path.”

“I want to leave a mark in the life of every person who supported me, in the life of every person who sees themselves in me, in the lives of Latinos—because right now, I’m their face. I’m the reflection of what can be achieved when you don’t give up, when determination and passion are what speak through your life.

To reach this moment, so many doors were slammed in my face—so close. And that’s the message I want to leave behind: that a ‘no’ is not permanent. When someone tells you ‘no,’ when they say you’re not enough or you’re missing something—you have to use that as fuel to keep moving forward.

I want every little girl who sees me to believe that she is enough, that it doesn’t matter where she comes from. In my case, I’m a woman who left a small town in the Dominican Republic at 13—from a tiny village, as we say back home—and I just dreamed. I want the girls who live where I used to live, where I left at 13, to say: ‘I’m watching her on TV. She’s making history. I can do that too.’ That’s the mark I want to leave behind—that anything in life is possible, and you should never let anyone or anything limit you, because you have the power to choose and to achieve everything you want to do.”