Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua was crowned the 2023 Miss Universe at the pageant held in San Salvador, El Salvador. Anntonia Porsild from Thailand secured the first runner-up position.
Palacios had previously represented Nicaragua in the 2017 Teen Miss Universe pageant, reaching the top 10, and in the 2021 Miss World pageant.
Competing against winners from 84 countries, the Miss Universe panel of judges included model Halima Aden, “Queer Eye” star Carson Kressley, TikTok influencer Avani Gregg, and former Miss Universe winners, Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad & Tobago (Miss Universe 1977) and Iris Mittenaere of France (Miss Universe 2016).
The evening began with 20 semi-finalists selected from the preliminary competition and a global fan vote. After the swimsuit round, the field narrowed to 10, with the elimination of Miss Nepal, the first “curvy” contestant in the semi-finals, and Miss Pakistan, the first to choose a burkini as her swimsuit. The evening gown round further reduced the number of contestants.
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Following two rounds of Q&A, Palacios, Porsild, and second runner-up, Moraya Wilson of Australia emerged as the final contenders. In the last round, Palacios chose the 18th-century British philosopher and feminist, Mary Wollstonecraft as someone she would spend a day with, emphasizing Wollstonecraft’s boundary-breaking contributions to women’s opportunities.
The top five also included Miss Colombia, Camila Avella, and Miss Puerto Rico, Karla Guilfú. Spain’s Athenea Pérez, part of the top 10, was crowned Miss Congeniality.
Palacios’ victory is historic, marking the first time a Nicaraguan woman has won Miss Universe.
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