As Miss USA marks its 75th anniversary this month, several contestants are bringing more than evening gowns and interview skills to the national stage. They are also carrying the stories of immigrant families, bicultural identities, and Latin American heritage as they compete for one of the country's most recognizable pageant crowns.
The 2026 competition will be held in Miami, where 51 women representing every state and the District of Columbia will compete for the title and represent the country in Miss Universe.
Latinas have played an increasingly visible role in American pageantry, including Miss USA, over the past two decades, with contestants embracing their cultural backgrounds while advocating for education, health care, entrepreneurship, and community service.
The growing diversity of the Miss USA field reflects broader demographic changes across the United States and continues a trend that has seen more women proudly highlighting their Hispanic and Latin American heritage on the national stage.
Among this year's contestants, several women have publicly identified with their Latino roots or have spoken openly about the families and cultures that shaped them. Here is a closer look at some of the Latina contestants competing for the Miss USA 2026 crown.
Aileen Cerchiara, Miss Florida USA
One of the strongest contenders from the Sunshine State, Aileen Cerchiara will represent Florida after winning the state title earlier this year. The 26-year-old registered nurse from the Tampa area comes from a family with Colombian and Argentine roots, a heritage she has proudly acknowledged throughout her pageant journey.
Cerchiara has balanced a career in health care with modeling and pageantry, using her platform to promote wellness and women's empowerment. Her multicultural upbringing reflects two of South America's largest nations, and she joins the national competition hoping to become Florida's next Miss USA.
Victoria Cantu, Miss Mississippi USA
Although she represents Mississippi, Victoria Cantu is originally from Brownsville, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, one of the most heavily Hispanic regions in the United States. She earned her place in the Miss USA field through the organization's open casting process.
Publicly available biographies identify her Texas upbringing but do not clearly specify her family's country of origin. Because of that, while her surname suggests Hispanic ancestry, her exact Latin American heritage has not been publicly documented.
Lisbeth Fernández, Miss Montana USA
Miami resident Lisbeth Fernández will compete as Miss Montana USA after being appointed through the open call process. Fernández has previously participated in Latina-focused pageants and has publicly embraced her connection to the Latino community, although she has not publicly identified her family's specific country of origin.
Fluent in multiple languages and active in humanitarian work, Fernández has built her pageant career around leadership, education and service.
Melanie San Roman, Miss Wyoming USA
Texas native Melanie San Roman will represent Wyoming after receiving the state title through the Miss USA open casting process. San Roman has publicly spoken about her Mexican and Irish heritage, describing her multicultural upbringing as an important part of her identity.
Her advocacy focuses on confidence, personal growth and encouraging women to pursue opportunities regardless of age or background.
Honorary latinas
Miss Texas USA 2026 Alexis Fuetsch
Texas representative Alexis Fuetsch enters Miss USA as one of the youngest contestants in the field. The 20-year-old San Antonio native is an honors student at the University of Texas studying public relations and pre-law, and has built her platform around leadership, service and community engagement. Before winning the Miss Texas USA title, Fuetsch held several local pageant titles and has frequently volunteered with nonprofit organizations across Texas.
One of the organizations highlighted during her year of service is The CRIT, The Univision Teletón supported San Antonio nonprofit that provides housing, parenting classes and support services for pregnant women and young mothers experiencing homelessness or crisis situations.
Fuetsch has shared visits with the organization and has used her social media to encourage support for its mission of helping vulnerable mothers and their babies.
Her volunteer work complements her broader advocacy for women and families as she prepares to represent Texas at the 75th Miss USA competition.
Miss Massachusetts USA 2026 Kayshauna Montaño
Miss Massachusetts USA Kayshauna Montaño brings one of the competition's most inspiring personal stories to the national stage. Adopted into an interracial family at the age of three after spending time in foster care, Montaño has spoken openly about growing up navigating questions of identity and belonging. Those experiences inspired her to launch Fit Your Mold, an initiative that encourages young people to embrace their individuality and build confidence through authenticity.
Montaño, whose surname is of Spanish origin, has not publicly identified a specific Latin American country connected to her biological family. Rather than centering her advocacy on ethnicity, she has focused on her adoption journey and overcoming adversity. The West Springfield native went on to earn both a Master of Public Health from Brown University and a Master of Science in Business Analytics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A former New England Patriots cheerleader and nonprofit marketing manager, she says her life story has shaped her commitment to creating spaces where every young person feels seen, valued and empowereed.
As the Miss USA Organization celebrates its diamond anniversary, contestants with Latin American heritage continue to add to the pageant's growing diversity. Whether representing immigrant parents, bicultural families or generations of Hispanic Americans, these women illustrate the evolving face of the competition as they prepare to compete for the national crown in Miami later this month
