Rachel Chang, 27, is the Miss International 2026 representative of Cuba. She is an attorney, a journalist and the author of the book “The Little Fire Princess”.
Miss International 2025
On November 27, 2025, Rosangela Rizo represented Canada at Miss International 2025 at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. She competed against 79 other candidates including Catalina Duque of Colombia, who won the title.
The respective first, second, third and fourth runners-up were Yollanda Chimbarami of Zimbabwe, Paola Guzman of Bolivia, Melliza Xaviera of Indonesia and Myrna Esguerra of the Philippines. Chimbarami was Miss International Africa 2025, Farrah Grant of Turks and Caicos Islands was Miss International Americas 2025, Katrina Wan of Macau was Miss International Asia Pacific 2025 and Sophie Wallace of the United Kingdom was Miss International Europe 2025.
Rizo was unplaced. Ai Nozaki of Japan finished in the Top 20.
Miss International 2026
On June 15, 2026, it was announced that Miss International 2026 will have no swimsuit competition, which will be replaced by a sportswear segment, and no selection of continental queens. This is the 64th edition of the international beauty pageant based in Tokyo.
On September 29, 2026, Duque will turn 27. On November 25, 2026, she will crown her successor at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Bunkyo, Tokyo.
Including Cuba, more than 70 countries and territories will be represented. Here are some of Chang’s fellow candidates:
- Alessia Surreli, 20, Albania
- Kimleang Sokea, 26, Cambodia
- Marina Saleeb, 27, Canada
- María Antonia “Tutu” Mosquera Carvajal, 26, Colombia
- Samiah Booi, 27, Curacao
- Laura Glozarová, 18, Czech Republic
- Gisselle Rosales, 22, Ecuador
- Léna Vairac, 26, France
- Marlene Laura Jose, 22, Germany
- Christabel Lamptey, 21, Ghana
- Maria Apostolaki, 22, Greece
- Elise Miguel, Guam
- Melina Birk, 26, Guatemala
- Nicole Alia Ke’ala Kāhealani Sakaguchi, Hawaii
- Annette Christiansen, 28, Honduras
- Clarisse Achard, 25, Hong Kong
- Victoria Veronica Titisari Kosasieputri, 26, Indonesia (Victoria Kosasie)
- Asia Wright, 21, Jamaica
- Michiru Yakuwa, 25, Japan
- Wenwei Yap, 28, Malaysia
- Elizaveta Kuznetsova, 26, Moldova
- Khuslen Shirendev, 23, Mongolia
- Isabel Soleil, 25, Netherlands
- Allison Roa-Sauz, 20, New Zealand
- Damilola Bolarinde, 29, Nigeria
- Bárbara Vázquez, 25, Paraguay
- Valentina Andreón, 20, Peru
- Katrina Anne Castañeda Johnson, 28, Philippines
- Janessa Yang, 24, Singapore
- Su-yeon Jang, 19, South Korea
- Laura Dowell, 24, Spain
- Annie Chen, Taiwan
- Jeanne Afandonougbo, 21, Togo
- Adesha Gustave, 18, Turks and Caicos
- Brittany Feeney, 28, United Kingdom
- Alejandra Ranaudo, 27, United States Virgin Islands
- Valeria Di Martino, 21, Venezuela
- Khánh Như Lê, 22, Vietnam
- Ruvimbo Njomboro, 23, Zimbabwe
From Havana to Tokyo
Rizo was 27 years old when she competed at Miss International 2025 in Tokyo. Both she and Chang are originally from Havana, Cuba.
Despite being separated by nearly 8,000 miles, Tokyo and Havana share a surprisingly deep relationship built on history, cultural exchange, and mutual artistic admiration. Their formal connection traces back over a century, beginning with Japanese agricultural migration to Cuba in the late 1800s and official diplomatic relations established in 1929. Throughout the changing political landscapes of the 20th century, Japan maintained steady diplomatic and trade ties with Cuba, creating an enduring bridge between the two capitals.
Culture, however, serves as the strongest thread connecting Tokyo and Havana. Tokyo has long nurtured a vibrant Latin jazz and salsa subculture, inspired by Havana’s legendary music scene. Renowned Japanese ensembles, such as Orquesta de la Luz, achieved global acclaim by performing authentic salsa sung in Spanish, demonstrating Japan’s deep passion for Afro-Cuban rhythms.
Sports also play a crucial role in this cross-cultural dialogue. Both nations share an intense love for baseball, leading to high-profile exchanges where Cuban star athletes have played professionally in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league.
From diplomatic continuity to a shared passion for baseball and salsa, Tokyo and Havana demonstrate how rich cultural appreciation can bridge vastly different worlds.
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