The short version
- El Nuevo Día reports that Destiny Anbar was born in San Juan and raised in Cupey and arrived at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport on Sunday
- ¡HOLA! states that Jordan is returning to Miss Universe after 66 years and Anbar is the country's first representative since 1960
- El Nuevo Día reported that Anbar is a data engineer living in Amman with her husband and was a semifinalist in Miss Texas USA in 2023 and 2024
- Both outlets quote Anbar saying her participation represents a full-circle moment as she competes in the place where she was born
Born in Puerto Rico, representing Jordan
Destiny Anbar, who will represent Jordan at Miss Universe 2026, was born in San Juan and grew up in Cupey, El Nuevo Día reported. The 30-year-old arrived on the island on Sunday to begin preparations for the competition, which will take place at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot.
According to ¡HOLA!, Anbar is the first Jordanian contestant in 66 years. Jordan last participated in Miss Universe in 1960. The final is scheduled for Nov. 24 and will be broadcast on Telemundo.
Also on PuertoRico.com: San Juan travel guide
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Me siento muy bendecida de tener esta oportunidad de regresar después de 66 años… Nací en San Juan, crecí en Cupey, esto es un (full circle moment)
Our translation: I feel very blessed to have this opportunity to return after 66 years... I was born in San Juan, I grew up in Cupey, this is a full circle moment
The source's own statement, as quoted by Enjoy Puerto Rico via El Nuevo Día. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Personal significance and family ties
Anbar told the platform Enjoy Puerto Rico that competing in Puerto Rico is a full-circle moment. Both outlets report her saying she feels blessed by the opportunity. El Nuevo Día reported that her family, including grandparents and cousins in Puerto Rico, is excited to see her compete at the Choliseo.
The model and content creator also has a background in pageants. Her mother competed in Miss Puerto Rico, and Anbar began participating at age 8, El Nuevo Día reported. She lives in Amman, Jordan, with her husband and described herself as coming from a multidimensional home that blends two cultures.
Where the sources differ
Both sources agree that Destiny Anbar was born in San Juan and raised in Cupey, that she arrived on Sunday, that Jordan is returning after 66 years, and that the final is on Nov. 24 at the Coliseo. El Nuevo Día provides additional details on her age (30), profession (data engineer), residence (Amman with husband), prior participation in Miss Texas USA, family excitement, and her mother's pageant history. ¡HOLA! emphasizes her fluency in Spanish and the personal significance of returning home while representing Jordan. No major factual conflicts exist.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state how Anbar acquired Jordanian citizenship or when she moved to Amman. They do not specify her exact chances of winning, details of her preparation in Puerto Rico, or whether she will perform a specific talent or wear a national costume tied to Jordan or Puerto Rico. The sources also do not mention any official comments from pageant organizers about her dual connection.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Puertorriqueña Destiny Anbar representa a Jordania en Miss Universe 2026
- Reporting Miss Jordania 2026 nació en Puerto Rico: conoce a Destiny Anbar, la latina que representa a un país de Oriente Medio
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día and ¡HOLA! both covered Anbar's arrival and background. Most biographical and family details rest on the El Nuevo Día report, while the 66-year Jordan absence is confirmed by both. The direct quotes attributed to Anbar come from her interview with the Enjoy Puerto Rico platform.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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