Samaná gave the country’s biggest beauty pageant plenty to talk about. Valentina Campion, a professional model born in Majualito, Samaná, was one of 32 official candidates who competed on July 30 at the Eduardo Brito National Theater for the Miss República Dominicana Universo 2026 crown — and walked away as First Runner-Up.
From Majualito to the National Stage
Valentina began her journey in the world of beauty pageants at just 16, when she started representing her community in local competitions. Over time, her path led her through contests such as Miss Tierra República Dominicana and Miss Charm, eventually becoming the queen who carried Samaná’s colors into the national title race.
Today she balances her work in high fashion with roles as a master of ceremonies and communicator — a versatility that has followed her throughout her career.
A Demanding Preparation
Ahead of the grand final, Valentina shared details of her training routine: consistent physical conditioning, a balanced diet, and public-speaking classes were all part of her daily life. In recent interviews, she also spoke about her personal style and how the people closest to her supported her through this new challenge.
She described this stage of her life as a journey of learning and dedication, one where she aimed to give her best at every step, with the goal of helping the Dominican Republic continue to shine on international beauty stages.
The National Costume: A Tribute to Samaná
One of the most talked-about moments of her run came during the National Costume Gala, held on July 22 as a prelude to the final. That night, Valentina wore a piece designed by Marisol Henríquez, created with the idea of telling a story rather than simply showing off a design.
The costume was built to capture the soul of Samaná: every texture, color, and finish aimed to reflect the province’s art, faith, traditions, and the essence of its people, turning the runway into an expression of identity and provincial pride.
The Grand Final: Valentina Takes the First Runner-Up Sash
On the night of July 30, at the Eduardo Brito National Theater, the 70th edition of the pageant reached its climax, hosted by Caroline Aquino, Brea Frank, and Jessica Pereira, with reigning Miss Universe Fátima Bosch of Mexico leading the Q&A round with the six finalists.
The crown went to Melissa Núñez, representing Concepción de La Vega, who will represent the Dominican Republic at Miss Universe 2026, set for November 24 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
But the night belonged to Samaná too: Valentina Campion was crowned First Runner-Up, the second-best result of the entire pageant, ahead of Floralba Caba (Monseñor Nouel, third place), Camila Issa Svelti (Santo Domingo de Guzmán, fourth place), Melissa Domínguez (Azua, fifth place), and Elena Izzo Anselmi (Distrito Nacional, sixth place).
The announcement sparked one of the most intense reactions of the evening: much of the crowd that had come out to support Valentina had expected to hear her name called as the winner, and chanted “Samaná” and “Valentina” in the moment before the coronation. Although the crown went to La Vega, the result marks the highest placement Samaná has achieved in this edition, confirming the strength of the province’s representation on the national stage.
What’s Next for Valentina
With this runner-up finish, Valentina Campion closes out her run in Miss República Dominicana Universo 2026 as one of the pageant’s standout figures, and everything suggests her name will keep coming up in Dominican fashion, media, and pageantry in the months ahead.
What did you think of the result? Let us know in the comments whether you think Samaná should have taken the crown this year.
