Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua was crowned the 72nd 2023 Miss Universe at the culmination of the annual beauty pageant, which took place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador’s capital. Antonia Porsild of Thailand placed as first runner-up, and Miss Australia, Moraya Wilson, placed third in the competition as second runner-up.
Palacios’ win marks the first time a Nicaraguan woman has won Miss Universe. She had previously represented Nicaragua in the 2017 Teen Miss Universe pageant, placing in the top 10, and in the 2021 Miss World pageant.
Beauty queens from 84 countries’ national pageants competed at this year’s Miss Universe, judged by a panel including model Halima Aden, “Queer Eye” star Carson Kressley, TikTok influencer Avani Gregg and two former Miss Universe winners, Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad & Tobago (Miss Universe 1977) and Iris Mittenaere of France (Miss Universe 2016).
Palacios was asked in the final round question who she would choose to spend a day in the life of, and she chose the 18th-century British philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, who she said broke boundaries and “allowed many women.”
“There are no limitations for women today,” she added, via a translator.
Miss Colombia, Camila Avella, and Miss Puerto Rico, Karla Guilfú, rounded out the top five, while another member of the top 10, Spain’s Athenea Pérez, was crowned the pageant’s Miss Congeniality.
Palacios, who hails from Managua, Nicaragua, is an audiovisual producer and health activist, according to Miss Universe, she was able to support herself through her college Communications program by working at her mom’s snack business. When her mom moved up north to find a better job amid the economic crisis, she became the economic and emotional support for her grandma and younger brother.
Inspired by her own struggles with anxiety, Palacios will be focusing on mental health as her cause, even starting the initiative “Understand Your Mind” where she interviews specialists on emotional care on TV.
Watch the video of the crowing below:
