Officially, the 72nd Miss Universe 2023 has been crowned.
Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel, the 71st Miss Universe 2023 in January, declared Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios the winner of the pageant on Saturday, Nov. 18.
Palacios was one of the 84 women who competed in San Salvador, El Salvador, this year to win the title of Miss Universe.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, Miss Universe 2023 posted a video of Palacios’ celebration of her big win, including her reaction when her name was revealed.
Before breaking down in tears on stage, Palacios appeared shocked in the video at first. She covered her face before the big moment and her hands started to shake as the thunderous cheers and applause went on.
After draping the Miss Universe sash around her body, Palacios received a purple flower bouquet. As the audience went crazy, a huge tiara was put on her head to cap off the moment.
The first runner-up was Miss Thailand Antonia Porsild, while Miss Australia Moraya Wilson came in second. The top five contestants for Miss Universe 2023 were Miss Colombia Camila Avella and Miss Puerto Rico Karla Guilfú. Athenea Pérez, Miss Spain, emerged victorious in this year’s Miss Congeniality competition.
According to Miss Universe, Palacios is an audiovisual producer and health activist from Managua, Nicaragua. She worked at her mother’s snack company to help pay for her college communications program. In the midst of the economic crisis, her mother moved up north in search of a better job, and she took on the role of providing emotional and financial support for her younger brother and grandmother.
Motivated by her personal experiences with anxiety, Palacios intends to concentrate on mental health as her cause. She has even launched the initiative “Understand Your Mind,” in which she appears on television to conduct expert interviews on emotional support.
Palacios wrote a reflection post in Spanish on Instagram in the hours before the competition’s final moments.
She declared that she would be encouraging the other girls who aspire to dream as big as Miss Universe and her “inner girl” to pursue their dreams by devoting the evening to them. In addition, Palacios expressed gratitude to her native Nicaragua for their support and for allowing her to serve as an “ambassador of your culture.”
According to Business Insider, the 2023 Miss Universe pageant was planned to be the most inclusive to date.
The fact that Miss Colombia Camila Avella and Miss Guatemala Michelle Cohn are mothers violates the competition’s previous regulations. Making history in July as the first transgender Miss Netherlands, Rikkie Valerie Kollé is currently the second openly transgender competitor for Miss Universe, after Angela Ponce in 2018.
In October, Miss Portugal Marina Machete won the competition, making history as the nation’s first transgender competitor.
Numerous firsts and historic events occurred during the Miss Universe 2023 competition. At the 72nd Miss Universe pageant, Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua made history by becoming the first competitor from her nation to win the esteemed title.
Although Palacios took home the title, this year’s pageant broke traditions by accepting plus-size models, married women, and mothers.
Here, we celebrate the selection of our new Miss Universe while reliving the historic moments of this amazing occasion.
The new Miss Universe is here! The coveted title was won by Sheynnis Palacios at the 72nd Miss Universe pageant, which took place in San Salvador, El Salvador. Sheynnis Palacios created history by becoming the first competitor from Nicaragua to take home the esteemed title.
In a recent interview, Pérez passionately affirmed, ‘Diversity signifies the very essence of our future, and I proudly embody its spirit.’ Reflecting on my upbringing by a resilient single mother, an immigrant, and a Black woman, I am dedicated to uplifting immigrant mothers and single-parent homes through my work with children’s villages. ‘I believe in the power of my narrative to ignite inspiration in others,’ she continued. Today, the landscape celebrates diversity as an irrefutable reality, firmly rooted in the present.
Pérez, one of the top 10 finalists, showcased multiple looks. She honored Spain’s customs by donning a Siempreviva dress with dramatic ruffles around the wrists and train, a nod to flamenco. She selected a shimmering gold gown with large cutouts and all-over sequins for the evening gown section.
