29-year old Yamilex Hernandez of La Vega, Dominican Republic was named the winner of the Telemundo Miss Universe Latin America televised reality show, aired from Bogotá, Colombia. She had made the Top 5 of the Miss Universe Latin America, competing against Génesis Dávila (Puerto Rico), Gemmy Quelliz (RD), Laura Pérez (México) y Andrea Bazarte (México). Genesis Davila of Puerto Rico was the first runner up, and Gemmy Quelliz of DR the third runner up.
The event serves as a preparatory round for the Miss Universe 2025 that will be held in November in Thailand. But new rules of the Miss Universe pageant allow for the winner of the reality pageant to represent Latin America in the Miss Universe contest, No. 74. This means that the DR could have two candidates in the November Miss Universe contest.
The event was marred on the day before when the eight finalists were about to take on a physical challenge. Laura Perez, a resident in Florida competing for Cuba, was the first contestant to soar across the stage, yet her harness failed her and she fell to the ground. The challenge was cancelled for the other contestants. In a video photo after the incident, Perez is seen seated on the stage while in pain and shock. Telemundo has not issued a statement on the physical condition of Perez.
El Espectador of Colombia would report that Perez was able to rejoin the competition finals.
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22 July 2025