13 things about Miss Universe Cuba 2024 Marianela Ancheta

Marianela Ancheta Rodriguez won the inaugural edition of Miss Universe Cuba. She represented Cuba in the 73rd edition of Miss Universe.

BIOGRAPHY

Ancheta is a Cuban entrepreneur, model and beauty queen born in Villa Clara, Cuba and based in Miami, Florida, United States. She is the founder of the RMA FACE Skincare brand.

While in Miami, Ancheta regularly communicates with her grandmothers in Cuba.

On March 10, 2025, Ancheta turned 32. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. In 2006, she and her mother left Cuba and moved to the U.S. by crossing the border through Mexico.
2. In 2014, she visited the United Arab Emirates.
3. In 2015, she visited Monaco and Italy.
4. In 2016, she visited France, Spain and Haiti.
5. In 2017, she visited the Cayman Islands, Taiwan and Singapore.
6. In 2018, she visited Jamaica, Switzerland, Austria, South Africa, Mauritius and England, United Kingdom.
7. In 2019, she visited Russia.
8. In 2021, she visited Greece, Hungary and the Dominican Republic.
9. She was a Miss y Mister Cuba 2022 judge.
10. She won Miss Universe Cuba 2024.
11. She was a Miss Universe 2024 semifinalist.
12. In 2025, she visited Thailand.
13. She was a Miss Global 2025 judge.

TIMELINE

Ancheta is 5’9″ tall. She is the 15th beauty queen to represent Cuba in Miss Universe and the third beauty queen to place in Miss Universe as Cuba’s representative.

2010s

• She spent the nights of December 24, 2012 and December 31, 2012 cleaning the bathrooms of a Walgreens.
• On November 9, 2013, she attended the JBL Dare to Listen Synchros S700 Headphone Miami Launch with DJ Ross One at The Gale South Beach in Miami.
• On February 21, 2014, she attended Botran’s Medianoches & Mixology presented by Smithfield At Wynwood Walls during the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival at Wynwood Walls in Miami.
• In June 2014, she traveled to Dubai, UAE.
• She traveled to Monte-Carlo, Monaco in October 2015 and Milan, Italy in December 2015.
• She traveled to Paris, France and Barcelona, Spain in January 2016, Geneva, Switzerland and Havana, Cuba in February 2016 and Port-au-Prince, Haiti in September 2016.
• She traveled to Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands in August 2017, Hong Kong, China and Taipei, Taiwan in September 2017 and Singapore in October 2017.
• She traveled to Montego Bay, Jamaica in February 2018, Venice, Italy in April 2018, London, England; Zurich, Switzerland; Vienna, Austria and Rome, Italy in June 2018, she visited London, England and South Africa and Mauritius in August 2018.
• In December 2019, she visited Moscow, Russia.

2020s

• On January 17, 2020, she attended Celine Dion’s concert at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
• She traveled to the Bahamas in June 2020 and Austria in August 2020.
• She traveled to Sitges, Barcelona in March 2021, she visited Santorini, Greece; Budapest, Hungary and Madrid, Spain in September 2021.
• In November 18, 2021, she attended the 22nd Latin Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
• In December 2021, she traveled to La Romana, Dominican Republic.
• On June 19, 2022, she served as a Miss y Mister Cuba 2022 judge at the Manuel Artime Theater in Miami.
• On February 23, 2023, she and Dale Pututi attended the 35th Premio Lo Nuestro at Miami-Dade Arena in Miami.
• On September 26, 2024, she represented Region Central at Miss Universe Cuba 2024 and competed against 23 other candidates in Miami. She won the title.
• On September 30, 2024, Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza interviewed her at the Telemundo Center in Miami.
• On October 4, 2024, she traveled to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
• On October 22, 2024, she met Hialeah, Florida mayor Esteban Bovo who declared October 22 the Marianela Ancheta Day.
• On October 25, 2024, she met Miami mayor Francis Suarez, who honored her with a recognition as Miss Universe Cuba 2024.
• On October 26, 2024, she attended iHeart Radio’s 2024 Fiesta Latina at the Kaseya Center on Biscayne Bay in Miami.
• On November 16, 2024, she represented Cuba at Miss Universe 2024 and competed against 124 other candidates at the Arena Ciudad de México (Arena CDMX) in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico. She finished in the Top 30.
• On March 9, 2025, she served as a judge at Miss Global 2025 on the 4th floor of The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan in Bang Khen, Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
• On July 8, 2025, she crowned her successor Miss Universe Cuba 2025 Lina Luaces at the Milander Park in Hialeah.