Dominga López, the representative of Viña del Mar, was crowned Miss Universo Chile 2026 on Sunday, August 2, during a gala broadcast by pauta.cl. The 24-year-old journalist and social communication licensee succeeded encancha.cl, who presented her with the crown at the conclusion of the event.
Dominga López Crowned Miss Universo Chile 2026
López advanced through the competition’s selection stages, which began with 13 finalists opening the gala in red outfits designed by Lennin Villarroel, followed by a swimsuit presentation featuring designs from GLORIAHOON. After narrowing the field to eight contestants and a subsequent evening gown phase, López reached the final three alongside Catalina Vallejos representing Pucón and Scarlette Hermosilla representing Lo Barnechea. Following her victory, López stated that she did not know what to say and was speechless, adding that she never doubted herself but one never knows what to expect, and that she was very happy and eager to represent Chile to the best of her abilities, concluding with applause for her fellow contestants who did an incredible job, as reported by Encancha.
Path to the Crown and Professional Background
Born in Viña del Mar, López holds a degree in social communication and journalism from the Universidad del Desarrollo. Alongside her academic background, she has maintained involvement in acting and commercial modeling for campaigns both domestically and internationally. Her profile grew further in 2025 when she performed as the “ángel negro” in music videos and tour appearances for urban artist Kidd Voodoo, including accompanying him to the Festival de Viña del Mar.
The final phase of the competition featured a live question round where the top contestants addressed the Escucha su corazón
anti-abortion bill. López criticized the legislation during the broadcast, calling it a step backward and arguing that the state should concentrate on supporting women rather than exposing them to potential revictimization. Her response drew immediate applause from the audience and praise from television commentators.
The Competition Panel and International Stage
The grand final was hosted by Julio César Rodríguez and evaluated by a judging panel led by Viviana Nunes. The panel also included model and television host Carolina de Moras, Miss Mundo Chile 2013 Camila Andrade, actress and model Josefina Montané, fashion stylist Edgardo Navarro, and television journalist José Antonio Neme. Musical and guest appearances during the evening featured performances by former titleholders including Emilia Dides and Inna Moll.
With her victory, López earned the right to represent Chile at the 75th edition of the international Miss Universo pageant, scheduled to take place on November 24, 2026, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to Biobiochile. Chile’s sole victory in the international Miss Universo competition remains Cecilia Bolocco’s win in 1987, a historical milestone that López stated she hopes to emulate by bringing home a second global title for the country, as noted by Emol.
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