Yadira Menéndez is a Cuban-born model, mother, Curve Virreina (Curve First Runner-Up) of Nuestra Reina Latina 2025 and Miss Hialeah. In this interview, she talks about her start in modeling, her love of reading and music, her family, her scars, and her belief that real beauty begins within.
This interview was originally published in Spanish. Read the original in Spanish
Yadira Menéndez @yadira.menendez24
Yadira Menéndez is the very picture of a resilient, authentic and deeply inspiring woman. Born in Cuba, she carries with her the essence of a culture full of joy, human warmth and strength, values she now proudly brings to every step of her career. As Virreina Curve de Nuestra Reina Latina 2025 (Curve First Runner-Up of Nuestra Reina Latina 2025) and Miss Hialeah, Yadira represents much more than beauty: she is the symbol of a woman who has learned to turn her experiences into momentum to grow and shine.
Her modeling journey began unexpectedly, but with a clear purpose: to show that true beauty comes from within. A mother, a fighter, and a woman passionate about reading and music, Yadira has built a path grounded in discipline, self-love and determination. Every runway, every photo shoot and every message she shares with her community is an extension of who she is: warm, down-to-earth and real.
In a world where perfection is so often imposed, Yadira champions authenticity and female empowerment, inspiring other women to embrace their stories, their scars and their unique worth. Today, her voice resonates as a message of hope: dreams do come true when they are pursued with faith, perseverance and heart.
1.- Yadira, thank you so much for accepting our invitation. You’re a native of Cuba. What have you always loved about the city where you were born and raised? Which lifelong hobbies does Yadira still practice and can’t give up? What brings a smile to your face or gives you great joy?
What I have always loved and admired is the warmth and joy of the people, which are always present despite the economic hardships.
The hobbies I have kept all my life are reading, because I consider it the best way to cultivate learning, and singing, which I have been passionate about for as long as I can remember, in moments of both joy and sadness.
What makes me smile the most is playing with my children, who are my greatest treasures.
I’m someone who almost always has a smile painted on my face, because I have learned that a smile costs nothing and can help a lot.
2.- Model – Virreina Curve de Nuestra Reina Latina 2025 – Miss Hialeah. How did Yadira decide to take her first steps in the world of modeling and pageants? How does it feel to do what you love, what you are passionate about? Is it easy?
It was a twist of fate. Through Instagram, I saw an announcement for this platform offering women like me the chance to boost their careers and show the world who we are: women who are fighters and beautiful inside and out.
I feel grateful to the Nuestra Reina Latina team for creating this pageant, and I also feel proud of having achieved something that many people believed I could not. It isn’t easy, but nothing incredible ever is.
3.- Yadira, are you aware of your growth as a person, model and beauty queen, and that it will make you more of an influencer every day, an opinion leader, especially for the youngest? How do you handle that? How do you like to interact with the followers who join you? What is your favorite social network?
It is a serious responsibility and, at the same time, a wonderful one. I am convinced that if my experiences can serve as inspiration to others, whether grown-ups or kids, to help them find their own path to success, then I will always give my best to make that happen.
Sometimes it’s late at night and I’m thinking about what words I can share with my followers to encourage them and to send a message that is useful in their lives.
I like to reply to the messages they send me with my most sincere and honest opinion. Right now, I interact on my social networks without any particular favorite among them.
4.- What do you think is Yadira’s distinctive, unique signature in everything she does, as a person and as a model?
Being myself is what defines me most in everything I do. I am very responsible about my work. I always help whenever possible so that everything turns out as it should (I’m a bit of a perfectionist). And I love smiling and cheering up the people around me, because I know that each of us has battles to fight every day.
So having someone who takes our worries away, even for a moment, is invaluable.
5.- What values, care routines and habits are important to have or adopt in order to be a model?
First of all, you have to be convinced that it is something you truly want to do. There will be physical and mental sacrifices you have to learn to handle, but if we love modeling, we will know how to get through it all masterfully.
After that, I believe good training and discipline are essential. You have to be consistent in how you carry yourself on and off the runway. Adopting a balanced diet and exercising regularly work wonders.
6.- How did you feel the first time you modeled in front of a photo camera and a video camera? What did you feel the first time you were in a beauty pageant?
At first I felt terribly nervous! I have performed as a singer at various events, but I had never modeled in my life. Modeling in a swimsuit in particular was a challenge for me (I felt shy).
Thank God, little by little I relaxed and began to really enjoy the process. Beauty pageants have always sparked my curiosity and interest.
When I watched those beautiful women speaking and modeling, I wondered what it would be like to be in their place. Nuestra Reina Latina is a pageant that has everything contestants need to learn and to make that dream of competing and winning in a beauty pageant come true.
7.- Yadira, would you like to venture at some point in your life into the entertainment industry, such as TV or radio, or perhaps more toward acting, film or theater? Have you always been outgoing?
That is another one of my dreams, to venture into TV, film and/or radio. The truth is I’m a little introverted, but I try to be stronger and bring out my extroverted side despite the nerves that hit me at the beginning.
8.- Yadira, what do you think about the power of social media and new technologies?
I think the power of social media and new technologies is both spectacular and frightening. Technology is here to stay. That’s why it’s important to know how to control the information that is posted and seen, because it can just as easily contribute to something positive as make harmful activities easier for anyone.
Only we have the duty and the responsibility to use it to do positive things for the present and future of all of us.
9.- What would you say to parents who do not support their children’s talent? And what advice would you give to young people who have talent and ability but don’t dare take the next step?
Our children are our treasure. We must always support them as long as it is for positive things in their lives. We have to learn to see their point of view and help them understand ours. Find a middle ground where both sides manage to understand each other.
Avoiding forcing them to do something that doesn’t make them happy is also important. Some parents want their children to be artists or doctors even though their children have a talent for something totally different.
As fathers and mothers, we must work hard to teach our children good values so that later they can forge their own path with their own effort and our support.
Good advice for anyone who has a talent but feels held back from developing it out of fear or shyness is to see their own capacity to be successful, to visualize themselves reaching the goal, and to meditate to find peace in moments of crisis.
The first step is the hardest. It’s like riding a bike: you have to keep pedaling constantly to maintain your balance, and if we fall, we get back up as many times as necessary.
10.- What lesson does this whole experience in a world full of glamour, designs and beauty leave you with each day, as a person and as a human being?
The lesson it leaves me with is to appreciate my inner beauty and enhance it every day. The beauty of communicating my ideas more precisely and clearly, of walking tall without shame over outside opinions, because I am a fighter who carries scars on my body and in my heart, and still I look in the mirror and love myself every day.
I admire all the women who learned to love themselves and to show their strength without worrying about criticism. I learned about camaraderie with the other contestants. This world of glamour is spectacular, and it taught me how to look my best when it comes to physical appearance.
11.- What do you think about the empowerment of women in recent years, reaching top positions all over the world? How can this situation be improved?
Women have something so incredible: we are givers of life. It fills me with pride to see women who have reached levels as high as, or higher than, men.
We are an unstoppable force, and we show all the time that we are resilient no matter what fate has in store for us. We know how to overcome the loss of loved ones or traumatic experiences by offering a smile, even if inside we are dying of sadness.
According to men, we are a mystery, because our minds are always planning how to improve the lives of our family and our surroundings. I believe we must keep training ourselves so we can continue to contribute to the world the beauty and the intellectual and emotional intelligence that are so badly needed at every moment.
12.- Yadira, what motivates you, and why do you feel grateful every day?
My main motivation is my family. For them, I give my very best every day. I am grateful for the health I have to get up every morning and go out to live a new day.
I thank Almighty God, who put me in this world for a reason, and for Him I always keep my faith high.
13.- Do you like to travel? Which countries do you already know? Which other countries would you like to visit, and which places do you recommend visiting in Cuba, your native country?
I love to travel! So far I have visited the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, but I would like to visit European countries like Spain, Italy and Portugal in the near future.
I recommend visiting the Cuban beaches because they are beautiful, especially Varadero Beach with its fine, brilliant white sand.
Also visit the Historic Center of Havana (I loved La Bodeguita del Medio and La Casa Del Chocolate). A place that amazed me when I went, especially for nature lovers, is Soroa, located in the province of Pinar del Río.
It has a beautiful waterfall and river, and natural pools of medicinal thermal waters. I love my country, and I consider myself a traveler at heart.
14.- How about we play a little ping-pong? I’ll say some words and you tell me the first thing that comes to mind, okay?
– Marriage – Commitment
– Abortion – Controversial
– Best movie – Titanic
– The worst – Human Centipide
– Children – Unconditional love
– Dancing – Medicine
– Singing – Joy
– Machismo – Negativity
– Politics – Controversial
– Favorite food – Too many
– Personality – Strong
– Percentage of craziness – Depends on the moment
– Great love – My children
15.- These lines are yours, Yadira. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for offering me this interview so people can get to know a little about me. I wish you great professional and personal success. Blessings.
Interview conducted by Jaime Mybs with Yadira Menéndez – Cuba U.S.A.
Interview authorized by Yadira Menéndez – Perumira – Jaime Mybs
All rights reserved in the name of Yadira Menéndez – Perumira – Jaime Mybs
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