Mariale Acosta was crowned Miss Universe Costa Rica 2026 on Friday night at the Costa Rica Convention Center, completing a comeback that had made her one of the most closely watched contestants in this year’s national pageant.
Acosta, representing Heredia, won the crown after a live final that brought together 14 candidates, national entertainment figures, international pageant guests and a large television and social media audience. Brenda Alfaro and Samaria Montero completed the final three after the last question round and final messages to the jury.
The event was broadcast live on OPA and held at the Centro de Convenciones de Costa Rica, where the pageant has grown into one of the country’s biggest entertainment events. The Miss Universe Costa Rica organization says its galas draw more than 1,500 attendees per edition and its content has reached more than 20 million views across television and social platforms.
Acosta’s victory closes a notable chapter in her pageant career. She finished as first finalist in the 2024 edition, later served as a presenter for the competition, and returned this year as a candidate. On Friday, she moved from favorite to winner, taking the title from Mahyla Roth, Miss Universe Costa Rica 2025.
The final included swimsuit and evening gown segments, a question round, and a final message from the last three contestants. The top five featured Yoselyn Ureña, Aaliyah Cunningham, Samaria Montero, Brenda Alfaro and Mariale Acosta before the jury cut the group to the final three.
The night also leaned heavily into the international profile of the Miss Universe brand. Guests listed for the event included Fátima Bosch, Miss Universe 2025; Victoria Kjaer, Miss Universe 2024; Emilia Dides, Miss Universe Chile 2024; Lina Luaces, Miss Universe Cuba 2025; Jenny Ventura, Miss Universe Dominican Republic 2025; and other regional titleholders. Costa Rican former queens were also part of the event, including Karina Ramos, Verónica González, Johanna Solano, Elena Correa and Valeria Rees.
Acosta will now represent Costa Rica at Miss Universe 2026, scheduled for November in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot. The international event will mark the 75th anniversary edition of Miss Universe.
For Costa Rica, the next goal is to build on last year’s result. Mahyla Roth gave the country one of its rare placements at Miss Universe in 2025. Costa Rica has placed seven times in the international competition, including appearances by Marian Esquivel in 1954, Nancy Soto in 2004, Johanna Solano in 2011, Fabiana Granados in 2013, Natalia Carvajal in 2018, Ivonne Cerdas in 2020 and Roth in 2025.
Acosta now begins a year as the country’s national titleholder, with pageant fans already turning attention to Puerto Rico and Costa Rica’s chances of earning back-to-back placements for the first time.
