Miss Nicaragua Crowned Miss Universe 2023

Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua was crowned Miss Universe 2023 in the annual beauty pageant held in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. Antonia Porsild of Thailand was the first runner-up. The competition involved 84 countries' national pageant winners and the 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 2023 Miss Universe pageant's national costume competition showcased some exciting highlights. At the start of the Saturday night event, twenty semi-finalists were announced based on the results of the preliminary competition and a global fan vote. Following the swimsuit round, the competition narrowed down to 10 remaining contestants, which unfortunately meant the elimination of Miss Nepal, who was the first "curvy" contestant to make it to the semi-finals, and Miss Pakistan, who made history by choosing a burkini as her swimsuit. Finally, the evening gown round led to a further reduction in the number of contestants, halving the remaining participants.

After two intense rounds of Q&As, only three women remained in the competition: Palacios, Porsild, and the second runner-up, Moraya Wilson from Australia.

During the final round, when asked who she would choose to experience a day in the life of, Palacios selected the 18th-century British philosopher and feminist, Mary Wollstonecraft. According to Palacios, Wollstonecraft shattered societal barriers and provided countless women with newfound opportunities.

She added, through a translator, that women have no boundaries in today's world. Miss Colombia, Camila Avella, and Miss Puerto Rico, Karla Guilfú, completed the top five, while Spains Athenea Pérez, another contestant from the top 10, was crowned Miss Congeniality.

Palacios succeeds the 2022 Miss Universe, RBonney Gabriel of the USA.