Ignacia Fernández is a death metal singer who went viral for performing at the Miss World Chile semifinals. She recently discussed her decision to showcase her music at the pageant in an interview with SiriusXM’s Liquid Metal.
Fernández explained her reasoning for choosing to perform a song from her band Decessus rather than selecting music from another artist. She wanted to stay true to her passion and authenticity during the competition.
“When the option to enter the contest came, they were, like, ‘Okay, but we have the sport competition, we have the talent competition and everything, so you have to do them.’ I was, like, ‘All right. But I was suspicious about making the music because I was a little bit afraid and everything,'” Fernández said. “I was, like, ‘Okay, this is my only talent. I’m going to sing and I’m going to sing a song from my band to at least show what I do.’ Because then if I did another song from, I don’t know, Arch Enemy, I didn’t want them to be mad at me because a beauty contest kind of thing, like, I was like, ‘Okay, if I’m going to f*ck it [up], I’m going to f*ck it [up] with my music at least.'”
Fernández also reflected on the distinction between her modeling career and her participation in the Miss World competition. She emphasized that the pageant provided her with a platform to advocate for her passions.
“I’ve been working as a model since I’m very young. The ‘Miss’ kind of side is completely different than the modeling job. It’s two separate worlds. But now I entered this, I saw this as an opportunity because Miss World has… I don’t care about winning a crown because of being the most pretty girl whatever. I don’t care about that. Miss World, for me, is important because it gives you a platform to work on something you are passionate about, to have a voice,” she continued.
Fernández’s bold decision to perform death metal at a beauty pageant proved to be a turning point in her career. Her unconventional talent performance resonated strongly with both judges and audiences. This ultimately led to her winning the Miss Mundo Chile 2025 title. Arrow Lords of Metal reported that Fernández represented the Las Condes district in the pageant. She received standing ovations for her unprecedented performance, which combined her unique death metal singing style with the traditional beauty pageant setting.
The victory is particularly significant as it allows Fernández to represent Chile and the global metal community at the upcoming Miss World 2026 competition. Blabbermouth noted that Fernández has spoken publicly about how metal music has been a vital source of strength and identity for her. She expressed her intention to challenge stereotypes by integrating her passion for death metal with her role as a beauty queen. She stated: “I’m trying to show myself as I am,” emphasizing her commitment to authenticity in both her musical and pageant endeavors.
Decessus is the progressive death metal band Fernández founded. The band has been making waves in the metal community since its formation in 2020. My Modern Met revealed that the band includes guitarist Carlos Palma, drummer Martín Fénix, and bassist Jaime Pepe. The group has already opened for notable international metal acts such as Insomnium, Jinjer, and Epica. They have performed at festivals in Europe and Chile. This established musical credibility demonstrates that Fernández’s decision to perform her own band’s music at Miss World Chile was not merely a novelty act. Rather, it was a genuine representation of her professional accomplishments in the metal genre.
Fernández’s dual career in modeling and metal music represents a growing trend of artists refusing to be confined by traditional expectations. Her success at Miss World Chile proves that pageants are evolving platforms where contestants can authentically express their passions and identities. These competitions are challenging long-held stereotypes about beauty pageants and the women who participate in them.
