Each year, Stony Brook University’s Latin American Student Organization (LASO) meticulously plans their annual Belleza Universal Pageant: a night of celebration with vibrant music, powerful cultural spirit and female empowerment.
LASO’s pageant encourages 10 contestants to showcase their passion toward their culture through attire and performances of their choosing. This year is the first time the pageant has declared a theme, which is based on Kali Uchis’ album “Red Moon In Venus,” which centralizes on the power of divine feminine energy.
Colorful flags of nations waved in the crowd as the host, comedian and Shop Cats Show creator Michelladonna, called out each country. This year included Miss Nigeria, Colombia, Honduras, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, India, Bangladesh, Italy and Mexico.
Destiny Corona, president of LASO and a senior studying marine vertebrate biology, shared that formerly, contestants were limited to Latin countries. However, to further promote inclusivity, LASO now accepts any and all candidates wanting to share their countries’ cultures.
“[As an organization], we want to try to highlight diversity within the campus,” Corona said. “I love when we have contestants that share two or more cultures and then they get to explore [one particular culture] that they don’t really know.”
In particular, Corona referred to her pageant “daughter,” Sophia Seda, Miss Puerto Rico and a senior majoring in English with a placement in the teacher preparation program. Corona explained that Seda identifies as both Puerto Rican and Trinidadian. Seda chose to contend as Miss Puerto Rico to give herself a chance to explore that part of her culture.
“My multicultural identity has truly shaped the way I view and express my identity today,” Seda said. “Growing up in a predominantly Hispanic community, I have often been made to feel as though I was less than because I carry more than just Hispanic roots. When, in reality, being multicultural is an addition, not a subtraction.”
Carla Sobrado, an event coordinator for LASO and a senior double majoring in mass communication and English with a placement in the teacher preparation program, highlighted that this aspect of including all countries is important to show representation.
“What I love about Belleza is that it doesn’t just concentrate on the Hispanic and Latino population,” she said. “At Stony Brook, you get to see women of all different facets, from all different majors [and] all different parts of the world [have the chance] say something important and I think that’s something that you don’t always get to see in other aspects of life.”
The pageant was broken down into various segments, but there were a few that highlighted the candidates heritage such as cultural and formal.
During the cultural portion, each candidate performed a traditional dance while wearing an outfit that held significant meaning to their nation. The colors, patterns and accessories worn by each contestant held a powerful message filled with rich history.
Kylie Diaz, Miss Dominican Republic and a senior majoring in health science, performed the traditional dance of palos, a type of Afro-Dominican music rooted in handmade drums. After her dance, Michelladonna asked her to share more about her performance and outfit.
Diaz instead encouraged the audience to hold a moment of silence to honor a recent tragic incident in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in which a roof collapsed in a nightclub, killing at least 225 people.
She then explained the significance of her attire.
“I am dressed as la muñneca centrosome, which translates to the doll without a face,” Diaz said. Not only is this a household decor in Dominican households, but it represents [Dominican diversity]. The Dominican people serve as a reminder that no matter your shape [or] color at the end of the day, you are Dominican.”
Diaz wore an off-the-shoulder dress made up of the colors on the Dominican Republic flag and detailed the significance of each color’s meaning. She further explained that the blue represents progress and the idea that God watches over their country, white signifies peace and red represents the bloodshed for their country’s independence.
Elizabeth Charpentier, Miss Haiti and a freshman majoring in chemistry, wore a karabela dress, which is traditionally worn during formal events within Haitian culture. She carried a basket with petals of Haiti’s national flower, the hibiscus — a symbol of healing through nature.
“The dress is more than just fabric, it’s a reminder of the strength and resilience of the people who have worn it before,” Charpentier said. “In my basket, I carry hibiscus flowers, Haiti’s national flower, as more than just a symbol of natural beauty. Hibiscus [has] been used to treat [medical issues] and embodies the deep connection between nature and healing [in Haitian culture].”
Other segments of the pageant, such as streetwear, “Glitz n’ Glam” and swimwear, allowed the candidates to strut and pose for the audience, igniting confidence within themselves. Many of the candidates and e-board members expressed how the pageant allows contestants to break out of their comfort zones and venture into a new experience through the world of pageantry.
Ultimately, Miss Colombia was crowned Miss Belleza Universal 2025, receiving a $500 prize and tiara. Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Haiti tied for second place in a moment that embodied the unity threaded throughout the evening.
Belleza Universal is not just a pageant. It’s a night where culture takes center stage and every step, every rhythm and every flag speaks volumes to both contestants and attendees.
