Productions such as El Grito de las Mariposas, Jenni Rivera: Mariposa de Barrio y Betty en NY have featured the performance of Cuban Alina Robert, who is also a television presenter and businesswoman.
Theater and cinema are other media that have been constant throughout her career. Examples of this are works such as ¿Y tú qué has hecho? (theater) and Plantadas (cinema).
In 2024, she narrated the documentary series Ser Trans, produced by Martí Noticias, about the trans community in exile and in Cuba, which earned her an Emmy.
As if that were not enough, Robert has also managed to stand out in beauty pageants, a field in which she recently made headlines for her place as a finalist in “Miss Universe Cuba” (2024), a contest that was revived after 57 years of continuous pause and in which she represented her hometown: Havana.
In 2011 she was crowned “Miss Cuban American USA” at the World Carnival Queen event, held in Ecuador, as “Miss Caribbean World” in the British Virgin Islands, and “Miss Latin America International” in Panama. In each one she represented her native country, Cuba. In addition, she participated in “Nuestra Belleza Latina.”
“2024 was a revealing year, because it showed me that resilience, faith and self-confidence are forces that move mountains. I learned that we can always achieve our goals when we have a clear purpose and act with passion and determination,” confessed the also director of Miss Latin America Cuba and USA.
During these months, Alina is waiting for the premiere of a film noir in which she participated and expressed her desire to create audiovisual content. Among her current most coveted projects is a show that entertains and informs the girls in her community and who follow both the Pageant and the Academy.
What did you feel when you were first runner-up in Miss Universe Cuba? Do you think that destiny was guiding you towards another path?
When I received the news, a wave of relief enveloped me. I remember the moment I took my phone to share that emotion with my friends and followers. They have always been by my side on this journey.
I felt a deep peace, because I knew that I had given myself over completely. Accepting the test of competing in Miss Universe Cuba was a challenge in every sense. The satisfaction of being a finalist was immense.
In life there are always many paths that can lead you to success. The essential thing is to be prepared for when the opportunity presents itself.
What did it mean to you to be the voice-over for Ser Trans?
I had had the privilege of narrating other documentaries with the same production company, but Ser Trans marked a special milestone in my career. It gave me my first Emmy, a recognition for which I feel proud and grateful.
Why do you think the Emmy was deserved?
Because it is a narrative of inclusion, masterfully told from a documentary and journalistic approach. It covers a fascinating panorama for the LGBTQ+ community. The emotional arc present in its chapters illustrates the realities and vicissitudes of human beings, and culminates in the realization of their dreams.
Many people who have dedicated their lives to transformism in Cuba, an art that for decades was censored on the island, have emigrated. In exile, most have found a space of freedom and fulfillment. Ser Trans is an inspiring project that undoubtedly deserved this award.
How was your academy, Miss Cuba USA, born?
It was born from a motivation that I had been nourishing for a long time. Since I understood the difficulties faced by those who want to enter the world of beauty and pageants, I felt the need to prepare them.
I went through a ten-year training path. Now, with accumulated experience, I feel ready to offer a comprehensive course that provides tools for contestants to achieve development and professionalism.
What is the main objective of this project?
My goal is to train and give tools to these women. I hope that, at the end of their time at the academy, they remember their potential and understand that the experience has provided them with resources to explore the art and determination they carry within. I want to be a bridge that stimulates their emotional and professional development; to make them feel safe and empowered.
Two events related to the world of beauty pageants recently marked your career: acquiring the Miss Global Cuba franchise and becoming national director of Miss Latin America Cuba and USA. How much responsibility is there behind both achievements?
These experiences have brought with them great responsibility. A few years ago, I began to contemplate these possibilities and to draw up a work plan. However, I felt that I was not yet ready to take on the commitment. Once you face this machinery, you understand that people depend on you, and that entails enormous responsibility. It is a motivation; it drives me to give my best.
How do these positions influence your professional development?
I have reached a level of personal preparation and commitment to my community that today allows me to play the role of national director with confidence, security and maturity.
Will we see you again in 2025?
Fortunately, the acting world is generous. This year a film will be released whose title is yet to be confirmed. This is a film noir that we shot in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, with the production company Abla Films in mid-2023 alongside René Moran and Lou Diamond Phillips. I’m excited about what’s to come.
Author
Brenda González
