María Vargas, representing Jalisco, is the new Miss Mexico. She was elected this weekend, after beating 31 contestants from across the country and earning the right to represent Mexico at Miss Universe 2026 in Puerto Rico.
The 28-year-old received the sash and crown from Fátima Bosch, Miss Universe 2025 and the outgoing titleholder, during the grand finale held at Rancho Tierra Sagrada by Cabo Adventures in Cabo San Lucas. With her victory, Vargas adds another crown to Jalisco's pageant history and opens a new chapter for the state in the national competition.
A graduate in International Business, Vargas is also an entrepreneur, model and writer. She is the author of Miss Trouble, one of her best-known personal projects. Speaking before the judges, she said she hopes to be valued for her character rather than her title, arguing that a woman's worth is not measured by what she pursues, but by her spirit of service and the mark she leaves on the lives of others. She is also the owner of a skin care brand.
During her remarks, the newly crowned queen also invoked the legacy of Fátima Bosch and a defining moment of Bosch's reign, when she spoke out against businessman Nawat Itsaragrisil in 2025. "A woman's worth cannot be measured by what she seeks, in this case a crown. I believe a woman's worth lies in her spirit of service and in the way she leaves a mark on the lives of others," Vargas said.
The third edition of Miss Universe Mexico brought together 32 state representatives who advanced through successive elimination rounds throughout the evening. A Top 16 was selected first, with online public voting playing a role in the results, before the field was narrowed to a Top 10 and then a Top 5. The five finalists answered individual questions in a decisive round before the judges selected the winner.
Mariana Macías of Michoacán finished as first runner-up, Fernanda Abaroa of Guerrero as second runner-up, Génesis Vera of Veracruz as third runner-up, and Ximena Ochoa of Mexico City as fourth runner-up.
The pageant was hosted by Clovis Nienow and featured a diverse panel of judges, including experts and personalities connected to the beauty pageant industry.
Vargas has just over two months to prepare for the 75th edition of Miss Universe, whose final is scheduled for Nov. 24, 2026, at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico, better known as "El Choliseo," in San Juan.
The Mexican representative heads into the international competition backed by one of the country's strongest records in the pageant. Mexico has won four Miss Universe titles throughout the competition's history, most recently with Fátima Bosch, the fourth Mexican woman to claim the crown. Vargas will now take on the challenge of pursuing a second consecutive victory for Mexico on the international stage.
As she bid farewell to her reign, Bosch thanked fans for the support she received over the past year and asked them to rally behind her successor with the same enthusiasm.
