Bonaire sends one of its most determined and experienced representatives to the 75th Miss Universe. Carrying the Bonairean flag to San Juan, Puerto Rico is Caroline Porras – a 24-year-old model, financial administration graduate, and advocate whose road to the crown was paved with persistence, purpose, and a second chance she made the most of.
Caroline Porras was crowned Miss Universe Bonaire 2026 during the Grand Coronation Night at the Event Center of Delfins Beach Resort in Kralendijk, defeating fellow finalists Vivienne Vollebregt and Katherine Montero. The crown was placed on her head by Nicole Peilliker-Visser, who had represented Bonaire at the previous Miss Universe edition.
This was not Caroline’s first attempt at the title. She had previously competed and finished as runner-up, also earning the title of Miss Tourism Bonaire and serving as a Bonaire Ambassador. She returned for 2026 not just with more experience, but with a completely different mindset. As she put it ahead of the final: “This is not just a second chance, this is my dream. For me, this second participation is a completely new journey with a different mentality.”
Raised in an immigrant family, Caroline’s journey has been shaped by resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering determination. A graduate in Financial Administration, she is also an artist, model, and dreamer who believes that authenticity and perseverance can transform lives. Through her platform, she hopes to inspire others to embrace their true selves and celebrate their potential.
Her motivation for competing goes well beyond the crown itself. “I want to show the world who Bonaire really is,” she said. “Not just the island, but also our culture, our language, and who we are as people.” For Caroline, representing Bonaire at Miss Universe 2026 is about putting a small but proud island nation on the world’s biggest stage.
Pageanthology’s Assessment:
Caroline Porras carries the kind of story that resonates – a second-chance competitor who didn’t give up, backed by a genuine platform and a clear sense of identity. Bonaire is a small territory on the international pageant stage, but Caroline’s combination of experience, purpose, and determination gives her the tools to make a real impression in Puerto Rico.