The fifth edition of the Days to Shine award ceremony recognized outstanding careers in sports, tourism, gastronomy, communication, creativity, beauty, fashion, professional leadership, and other areas. Erika de la Vega was the godmother of the 2026 edition.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. – In the framework of the eighth edition of Days to Shine, the fifth delivery of the Shining Women Prize was celebrated, a recognition created to make visible and celebrate women whose stories, achievements, and contributions are leaving a mark in their respective areas of work.
Hosted at the Hotel El Embajador and under the direction of Pamela Sued, the ceremony brought together the award winners, special guests, and members of the Days to Shine community. Since 2022, Shining Women has focused on women who make a difference and, through their careers, projects, and initiatives, open up new possibilities for others.
The ceremony featured the words of Evelyn Betancourt, founder of Days to Shine, and Gloria Reyes, Minister of Women, as well as the participation of the founding partners of the platform and Emilio Estefan, music producer and Days to Shine partner.
Under the message SHINE NOW, the 2026 edition connected the stories of its recognized women with the pillars of action, commitment, inspiration, and transformation, celebrating different ways of building a career and generating impact from the present.
The award winners
Erika de la Vega | Godmother of Shining Women 2026
The communicator, actress, producer, comedian, and creator of the podcast En Defensa Propia, Erika de la Vega, was named godmother of the Shining Women Prize 2026. Her career, marked by reinvention and the ability to open up new conversations and possibilities, connected in a special way with the spirit of SHINE NOW and the message of transformation of this edition.
Tania Báez | Reinvention
After more than 30 years of career in Dominican television, Tania Báez decided to change direction at the age of 47 and became one of the pioneers of the conference market in the Dominican Republic. Later, she took her training and mentoring programs to 24 countries and reinvented herself again at the age of 60 by writing, producing, and starring in Sin Pedir Permiso. The prize recognized precisely that ability to evolve and build new professional stages.
Chandra Capozzi | Sports
High-performance athlete and number one female paddle player in the Dominican Republic, Chandra Capozzi was recognized for a career marked by discipline and consistency. After developing a career in tennis, she found a new path in paddle and became the first Dominican to enter the Top 10 of the female ranking of the United States Padel Association. Currently, she combines competition with her work as a coach.
Noribel Medina de Haché | Tourism
Noribel Medina de Haché received the recognition in Tourism for her contribution to the growth and positioning of Cap Cana as a reference destination in the region. Her career includes leading sales and marketing strategies, international campaigns, and creating the Cap Cana Real Estate community. She has also combined entrepreneurship and conservation through initiatives for the rescue of beehives in the destination.
Luisa Feliz | Gastronomy
With over 30 years of experience, Luisa Feliz was recognized for her contribution to the promotion and valorization of Dominican gastronomy. In 2010, she created the first specialized gastronomy magazine in the country, and throughout her career, she has developed important events and initiatives in defense of local products and gastronomic identity. She is also the creator of Mandiles de Esperanza, a project that uses gastronomy as a tool to help women transform their lives.
Alba Vásquez | Next Gen
The Next Gen category recognized Alba Vásquez, the first Dominican analog astronaut, founder of AstroQuisqueya and the Atabey Space Analog Program. Winner of the NASA Space Apps Challenge in 2024, her work aims to bring science, technology, and space exploration closer to new generations, turning her own aspirations into initiatives that open up opportunities for other young people.
Yizette Cifredo | Communication
With over two decades of career in media in Puerto Rico and the United States, Yizette Cifredo was recognized for a career that understands communication as a tool to connect, validate, and give value to the stories of others. Currently, she is part of Noticentro al Amanecer and, from her Brio 27 production house, develops social and human impact projects.
Alondra Ángeles | Creativity
Photographer, mentor, and conference speaker with over 15 years of experience, Alondra Ángeles received the prize in Creativity for a work that uses the portrait as a tool of confidence and inspiration. Her lens has portrayed hundreds of women, artists, entrepreneurs, and brands, and for seven years, she has been part of Days to Shine in Santo Domingo and Miami as the official photographer of the campaign and conference speaker.
Marielis Ramos | Beauty Entrepreneur
Marielis Ramos, founder and CEO of Hair Plus, was recognized for transforming a personal experience of adversity into an international entrepreneurship. After a car accident in 2013, she began to develop natural hair care formulas during her rehabilitation. Today, Hair Plus has a presence in 29 countries, a community of over 900,000 users, and sells over 60,000 units monthly.
Mónica Varela | Fashion
The artist and entrepreneur Mónica Varela received the recognition in Fashion for turning jewelry into a deeply connected creative language with Dominican identity. Through her work with stones like larimar and amber, she has brought elements of the country to new expressions of design and high jewelry, projecting Dominican roots through her creations.
Diomares A. Musa Fiallo | Professional Career
With over 30 years of career, Diomares A. Musa Fiallo was recognized for a career of leadership linked to growth, innovation, and business transformation. Currently, she is Vice President of Market Development, Products, and Channels at Humano Seguros and has received recognition such as Leading Woman 2025, from Ad Age and Ad Latina, and Best CMO 2026, from Forbes Dominican Republic.
Five years recognizing stories that leave a mark
The fifth edition of Shining Women closed by bringing together the award winners on stage again, celebrating not only their individual achievements but also the different ways in which each one has used their career, talent, and experience to generate impact.
The recognition is part of the mission of Days to Shine to create spaces that give visibility to stories capable of inspiring other women, and in this edition, it reinforced the message that accompanied the entire 2026 experience: the moment to shine is now.
About Days to Shine
Days to Shine is an experiential platform created to connect, inspire, and accompany women through content, tools, experiences, and community. Born in the Dominican Republic, it brings together experts, leaders, talents, brands, and thousands of attendees around conversations and experiences related to personal and professional growth, well-being, beauty, fashion, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.
Photo Credits Shining Women
Principal Photo – Award winners of Shining Women in the eighth edition of Days to Shine
01 Principal Photo –
2.Erika de la Vega
3.Tania Báez
4.Chandra Capozzi
5.Luisa Feliz, Emilio Estefan, and Evelyn Betancourt
6.Pamela Sued
7.Noribel Medina
8.Alba Vázquez
9.Alondra Ángeles
10.Marielis Ramos
11.Mónica Varela
12.Diomares Musa
13.Evelyn Betancourt, Emilio Estefan, and Gloria Reyes
Disclosure: This is a press release provided by Henry Coradin through the email “[email protected]”. Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the source.
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