Pregnant Miss Universe Canada Stuns with Secret Pregnancy

Jaime VandenBerg represented Canada at Miss Universe 2025, competing while four months pregnant. She revealed this secret months later on March 2, sharing footage from the pageant alongside a glimpse of her baby bump. Although the Miss Universe Organization began allowing mothers to compete in 2023, VandenBerg intentionally kept her pregnancy private.

She wanted the experience to be intimate and to be evaluated for her advocacy work on gender-based violence, not as 'the pregnant contestant.' Her platform work had previously earned her the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.

VandenBerg discovered her pregnancy while working in Mexico City. Though unexpected, the news aligned with discussions she and her boyfriend, Aaron Hernandez, had about starting a family. Hernandez encouraged her to continue with the competition.

Before competing, VandenBerg consulted her physician, who assured her that she was healthy and her body, conditioned by years of pageantry, could handle the competition. She strategically planned her wardrobe, wearing more fitted outfits earlier in the month-long event.

VandenBerg and Hernandez welcomed their daughter, Charlotte Nicole Hernandez-VandenBerg, on May 14. Now retired from pageantry after achieving a significant number of national titles, VandenBerg focuses on motherhood and coaching contestants.

She hopes her journey inspires women to embrace motherhood and ambition concurrently, stating that pregnancy and motherhood deepen purpose and motivate the pursuit of dreams.