Sophinel Báez Accusations: Clarissa Molina & Dayanara Torres Respond

Former beauty queen Sophinel Báez is at the center of a growing controversy sparked by resurfaced comments made during an interview with Dominican journalist Juan Carlos Albelo.

In the interview, Báez suggested she should have been crowned Miss República Dominicana 2015 instead of Clarissa Molina, alleging that Molina may have been offered an inappropriate proposition by a businessman and subsequently met with him privately on the night of the competition. “[They met in a room and] no one else was called,” Báez stated. “What exactly happened, I couldn’t tell you.”

Molina swiftly responded with a statement indicating she will pursue legal action against Báez, vehemently denying the allegations through her legal counsel. But Molina wasn’t the only figure named in Báez’s comments; former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres was also mentioned, with Báez claiming Torres told her the crown “was for [her],” adding, “You were the one who had to win, but they didn’t let us vote for you.”

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Torres also denied the claims in an exclusive statement. “I have never been a judge for Miss República Dominicana. On three occasions I had the honor of participating as a judge in the Miss Universe international competition, but I have not held that role in the local Dominican Republic competition. It is a misunderstanding, and I appreciate the opportunity to clarify it,” she told People en Español.

Following the fallout from her statements, Báez issued a retraction and a public apology via social media on March 4, 2026.

Given the recent dissemination of excerpts from an interview recorded approximately four years ago, I feel responsible for addressing you with sincerity and from the heart.

After that interview, I requested that the material not be published, as I understood that some parts of the interview could be subject to interpretations that did not represent who I really am or the context in which the conversation took place, which was approached in a different way than initially planned.

Despite this request, the content was recently disseminated without my authorization, accompanied by a focus and headline that I consider sensationalistic and harmful to both parties involved, without taking into account the damage that the publication of edited excerpts from a much broader conversation could generate.

Upon learning of the dissemination of this material, I immediately contacted Mr. Juan Carlos Albelo to request the removal of the video, reminding him that I had expressly requested that it not be published at the time. He subsequently apologized and proceeded to remove it.

At that time, I said things that today, from the maturity and growth I have experienced, I would handle very differently. I deeply regret that my words have caused discomfort or pain. It was never my intention to affect or harm anyone’s honor or image.

I am in a different stage of my life, focused on my family, on my personal growth, and on acting with greater awareness and prudence. I reiterate my respects and apologies to those involved and wish them all the best. I thank those who have given me the opportunity to explain and those who have always known me for my essence.

With love,

Sophinel Báez