Brazilian beauty titleholder Marcella Kozinski de Barros took the international media stage on Tuesday (6) during a series of appearances across Telemundo network programs broadcast from Miami, Florida. The reigning Miss Universe Brasil 2026 drew praise from television anchors after delivering an unscripted response in fluent Spanish regarding personal loss and resilience, a performance that quickly expanded her profile among pageant commentators ahead of the upcoming world finals.
The 26-year-old titleholder visited high-profile Spanish-language morning and afternoon broadcasts, including Hoy Día and En Casa Con Telemundo. During the in-studio segments, program hosts tested the Brazilian delegate with a classic pageant interview prompt, asking whether deep emotional suffering ultimately defines human beings or transforms them into stronger individuals.
Answering directly in Spanish without an interpreter, Marcella Kozinski articulated her perspective on life adversity and personal growth. “Pain always has the power to make us smaller or greater. Having experienced profound losses in my life, I can say that it was through those moments of hardship that I became the person I am today. Today, I am decisive, rooted in my values, aware that second chances exist to reshape one’s path, and convinced that circumstances do not define you. You can always make the choice to build something new,” Kozinski stated on air.
The articulate delivery sparked an immediate reaction from the television crew inside the studio. “Bravo! How wonderful to listen to you. And in Spanish, which is not her native language, so congratulations on such an outstanding delivery. Congratulations! I know you will do an excellent job,” remarked one of the Telemundo presenters as the live studio audience applauded her poise.
International pageant analysts highlight the Brazilian delegate
Beyond her scheduled appearances on network television, Marcella Kozinski held a private meeting in Miami with renowned international pageant analyst Salvador Garcia, widely known across digital platforms as Salvita. Following their discussion, the commentator shared photos of the encounter on his social media accounts, praising the Brazilian contender by captioning the post with the phrase: “With the spectacular Miss Universe Brasil.”
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Born in the southern city of Curitiba, Paraná, the model captured her national crown on July 25, 2026, in São Paulo after outperforming 31 other state and regional delegates. Her victory marked a historic milestone for the organization, as she became the first contestant ever to win the title representing a designated tourist route, having competed under the banner of Ilha do Mel. The national selection panel featured prominent television personalities such as Adriane Galisteu and Vera Viel, alongside Isabella Menin, who won Miss Grand International 2022.
South American title pursuit heads to Puerto Rico for the 75th edition
Should the Curitiba native secure the international title, she will become only the third woman from her country to capture the crown across seven decades of competition. Brazil holds two previous victories in the history of the pageant: the first won in 1963 by Rio Grande do Sul representative Ieda Maria Vargas, followed in 1968 by Bahia delegate Martha Vasconcellos. The nation came closest to a third crown in 2020, when Julia Gama finished as first runner-up behind Mexico’s Andrea Meza.
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Subsequent national representatives faced difficult runs during the opening elimination cuts on the global stage. Candidates Teresa Santos in 2021, Mia Mamede in 2022, Maria Brechane in 2023, and Luana Cavalcante in 2024 were all eliminated during the preliminary phase. Momentum shifted slightly during the 2025 edition, when Piauí representative Maria Gabriela Lacerda navigated through the initial round to finish among the top 30 semi-finalists.
The 75th Miss Universe competition is scheduled to take place on November 24, 2026, at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Delegates will arrive for official activities between November 15 and November 25, 2026, based at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, where judges conduct personal interviews, preliminary swimsuit evaluations, and evening gown assessments. Broadcast distribution rights for free-to-air television inside Brazil remain under negotiation and have not yet been announced.
