A Miami native contending for Miss Universe, Lina Luaces, has been dubbed a "Nepo Baby" over her blood ties to the Estefans—an illustrious family with high-ranking show business standings in Latin and North America.
The 22-year-old just recently scooped the title of Miss Cuba despite being born and raised in the Sunshine State. This cements her place in the upcoming international leg of the competition in Thailand later this year.
Highlights
- Lina Luaces, born and raised in Miami, won the Miss Cuba title, igniting social media backlash.
- Luaces is the daughter of TV host Lili Estefan and part of the powerful Estefan showbiz dynasty.
- Critics accuse the Miss Cuba contest of favoritism, citing Luaces’ family ties and lack of Cuban roots.
Her accession has fans vowing to boycott the event.
Cuba’s Miss Universe contender has mega-wealthy and influential family ties
Image credits: linaluaces
Lilli Estefan, 58, is Luaces's mother. She is best known for her co-presenter role on the Univision news entertainment program El Gordo y la Flaca (fat man, skinny woman).
Lilli left Cuba at the age of 13. In an interview with Today in 2021, she said:
Image credits: linaluaces
“There is more space for Latinos, there are more roles that have been written for us, but we still have a long way to go. For the first time, we have a Latina Cinderella, and we have to be proud of that.”
Her Uncle rubs shoulders with Miss Universe officials and contributed to the 2024 competition
The family’s privilege extends laterally, too.
Image credits: gloriaestefan
Lilli’s cousin Emily admitted to growing up “with a lot of privilege,” which, according to her, was due to her parents being “the model of people who are holding the door open.”
Luaces' uncle (Emily’s father), Emilio, rose to fame through an American Latin pop band, Miami Sound Machine.
The 73-year-old has received 19 Grammy Awards and, according to an estimate by The Richest, could be worth between $500 and $700 million.
Image credits: gloriaestefan
Tellingly, he contributed to the 2024 Miss Universe competition in Mexico by creating its official theme song and sitting on the board of judges.
According to a Billboard report in the same year, he also put in face time with the Miss Universe President, Raúl Rocha Cantú.
Her aunt is worth hundreds of millions with a reputation in the American music industry
Not to be forgotten is Emilio’s wife and Luaces' great aunt, Gloria, a singer who is said to have a personal net worth equal to her husband’s.
While she has preferred to stay below the radar over the last decade, her tenure in American show business dates back to the 1980s, when she signed a deal with NBC Disco.
More recently, she inspired the Broadway musical, On Your Feet! in 2015.
However, Luaces, unlike her star-spangled lineage, has just stepped into the spotlight.
She claims that it was a deliberate choice not to compete in the US
On Wednesday, July 8, Luaces represented Santiago de Cuba when she competed against 17 other contestants.
Image credits: linaluaces
Images from the event show her in tears while being crowned Miss Cuba as she stands with a large bouquet of flowers.
She later claimed that she deliberately chose not to compete in her country of birth, America.
“I knew I wanted to represent my roots. I am Cuban, and I’m very, very proud of that,” she said.
However, social media is neither touched by her display of emotion nor convinced by her explanation.
Social media thinks the nepotism is glaring
“It was SO obvious there is no other way."
“The princess doesn’t even speak Spanish and she has never stepped foot on the island,” complained one netizen, who thought that her competitors were prettier, enforcing their idea that the win was influenced by her family’s reputation.”
Image credits: linaluaces
“Miss Universe Cuba was rigged, we all knew this,” another wrote.
“Yes she was ‘chosen’ but not by her answers or ability to carry herself, this was bought before the competition,” chorused another.
“I love how they all left Cuba because of how terrible it was, yet they don’t mind representing the country.. which is still oppressing its people,” quipped another as a nod to Luaces’ family history.
But according to social media, every pageant is rigged
