Spain makes history with Miss World and Elisabeth Reynés Alabern
The young woman's result places her among the Spanish women who have gone the furthest in the famous beauty contest
Elisabeth Reynés Alabern traveled to Vietnam to represent Spain and will return as one of the leading names in Miss World. The 22-year-old from Mallorca finished as first runner-up in the 73rd edition of the pageant, held this past September 5th in Nha Trang. The crown went to Joheirry Mola of the Dominican Republic, while Taanusiya Chetty, representing Malaysia, took third place. The competition brought together 111 candidates from around the world.
The result places Reynés among the Spanish women who have gone the furthest in the competition and represents the greatest success since Mireia Lalaguna became the first Spanish woman to win Miss World in 2015. But Elisabeth's story is not limited to dresses, crowns, beauty, and catwalks. Behind her role as a model is a young woman studying to develop her career in the hotel industry who decided to speak publicly about a challenge she has faced since childhood: dyslexia.
The Miss World organization itself officially presents Elisabeth Reynés as a university student from Mallorca studying hotel management and administration.
In Spain, she explained in an interview after winning the national pageant that she has a degree in Accommodation Management and is studying Hotel Management at the University of the Balearic Islands. Her official Miss World profile also portrays a young woman with a particular interest in travel and different cultures. Her hobbies include graphic design, fashion, dance, and painting. She also enjoys cooking Spanish dishes such as paella and empanadas.
Elisabeth has spoken openly about her dyslexia and how it shaped her self-perception when she was younger. The Mallorcan woman explained that for a time she associated her different learning style with having fewer abilities. Over the years, that experience ended up becoming one of the cornerstones of her social project.
The young woman works as an ambassador for DISFAM, an association dedicated to people with dyslexia and other learning difficulties, and has used her fame to advocate for early detection and better support for children and their families. Her message stems from personal experience: learning differently doesn't mean being less capable.
Her commitment to this cause has also led to a publishing project. Elisabeth Reynés has written *The Rhythm of Letters*, an interactive and educational children's story about learning difficulties. The aim of this story is to help other children avoid confusing a learning difficulty with a lack of intelligence or intellectual ability.
Her entry into the world of pageants doesn't seem to be a plan she'd had since childhood. According to reports, some friends encouraged her to participate. In 2025, she was crowned Miss World Balearic Islands, and that first victory opened the door to the national pageant.
The definitive leap came in April 2026, when she triumphed over 35 other candidates in Gran Canaria and was crowned Miss World Spain, thus earning the right to represent our country in Vietnam. From then on, she began months of preparation that included runway training, sports, interviews, communication, languages, and styling, in addition to developing her social project.
Elisabeth Reynés had already made it clear before traveling to Vietnam that she wanted to use the title for more than just a modeling career. In April, when asked about the values she wanted to represent Spain with, she chose three: empathy, honesty, and commitment to others.
She also defended the evolution that, in her opinion, these types of competitions have undergone and explained her understanding of the concept of beauty: «Outer beauty can open a door, but what really makes the difference is what you do with that opportunity,» she asserted in an interview with Mundo Deportivo. She also described herself as a persistent person and highlighted her determination, emotional intelligence, and ability to listen to others.
Elisabeth Reynés's connection to Mallorca accompanied her to Miss World. Before traveling to Vietnam, in fact, the young woman met King Felipe VI during the Royal Family's traditional summer reception at Marivent Palace. She recounted that she had the opportunity to briefly explain to the King that she was about to represent Spain at Miss World, and he wished her luck. She described the encounter as brief but «incredibly special».
Little is known about his private life. Reynés has spoken publicly about the importance of his parents' support and the role his inner circle has played in keeping him grounded in the face of public exposure and social media.
Before the results were announced, the young woman had explained how she envisioned her life after the pageant. «I see myself as much more mature, more educated, and with a broader view of the world,» she replied in the aforementioned interview when asked where she expected to be a year later. She spoke of traveling, experiencing other cultures, collaborating with social causes, and continuing to grow personally and professionally. At that time, she didn't yet know that she would finish second in the world.