Mexican beauty pageant candidates prepare for 2026 competitions

Candidates are preparing for the 2026 national beauty pageant season in Mexico. Samantha Bastidas, originally from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, will represent Baja California in Miss Universo México 2026. She has undergone months of training in public speaking and runway walking ahead of the national concentration and the final scheduled for August 29.

In a separate competition, Daniela Rivera, a 19-year-old nursing student from Puente Nacional, Veracruz, will represent her state in Miss México 2026. Rivera intends to use the platform to advocate for vulnerable populations, specifically focusing on a social project to support elderly individuals facing emotional abandonment.