Dalia Bucaram enters Miss Universe Ecuador 2026 to champion mental‑health support

Twenty‑year‑old Dalia Bucaram, daughter of TV presenter Gabriela Pazmiño and lawyer Dalo Bucaram, announced her participation in Miss Universe Ecuador 2026. She said she is not seeking fame but wants to use the pageant’s visibility to promote a mental‑health project that offers support to people suffering from depression, especially those who cannot afford professional treatment. Bucaram explained, “Yo no quería saber nada de exponer mi vida, de exponerme a comentarios, porque siempre decidí ser muy reservada al respecto,” emphasizing that the contest will be a platform to raise awareness, create professional accompaniment spaces and break stigma around emotional disorders. In preparation she is focusing not only on physical training but also on communication skills to convey her message effectively, hoping the competition will serve as a “vitrine” for mental‑health advocacy.