Among the top five finalists were three Latino-American delegates: Miss Puerto Rico, Karla Guilfú Acevedo, and Miss Colombia, Camila Avella, in addition to Palacios.
SALVADOR, SAN Sheynnis Palacios, the winner of the 72nd Miss Universo pageant held in El Salvador on Saturday night, became the first representative from Nicaragua to receive the title of corona.
The public utilized Palacios, a 23-year-old communicator, during every round of the competition, even the ones that emphasized the involvement of the Latina competitors. She stated during her presentation that she was seeking employment in the field of mental health since she experienced anxiety attacks that had the potential to cause self-harm.
Moraya Wilson of Australia and Antonia Porsild of Thailand were selected as the second and third finalists, respectively.
Among the top five finalists were three Latino-American delegates: Miss Puerto Rico, Karla Guilfú Acevedo, and Miss Colombia, Camila Avella, who was one of the two first contenders with a mother from their family.
In addition to two transgender delegates and, for the first time, a tall contender, Miss Nepal Jane Dipika Garrett, there were 84 delegates vying for the title. The organizers intend to do away with the age restriction, which has a 28-year-old upper limit, for the next year.
Throughout the entire evening, there was a significant representation of the Latina competitors. Along with Miss Spain, Athenea Pérez, and Miss United States, Noelia Voigt, who is of Venezuelan descent, seven Latin American delegates advanced to the round of 20 semifinalists: Palacios, Avella, Acevedo, Miss Peru, Camila Escribens, Miss Chile, Celeste Viel, Miss Venezuela, Diana Silva, and Miss El Salvador, Isabella García-Manzo.
When asked which woman he would pick to spend a year in the shoes of if he could, Palacios confidently declared his opinion and answered with great style.
“Escoering a Mary Wollstonecraft,” he continued, referring to the eighteenth-century English writer and philosopher who is regarded as one of the forerunners of feminism. “Because she was the pioneer in paving the way for women’s rights.” And because there were no restrictions on what a woman might do, the income disparities of that century provided the ideal setting for many women to pursue careers in any sector. “That era was in 1756, making history in 2023.”
She also had to answer a question from jury member Halima Aden, a Somali-American model, who wanted to know what were the qualities and values that guide Palacios as a leader and model to follow.
“The quality that has inspired me and has led to inspiring many women and girls today is humility and learning to appreciate small things”, he said. “Because that is where it is most valuable, is the essence of the human being.”
The jury was completed by Iris Mittenaere, Miss Universe 2016; Nadia Ferreira, Miss Paraguay 2021; Eleanor Concepcion ‘Connie’ Mariano, doctor and commander in the United States Navy; Janelle Commissiong, Miss Universe 1977; Denise White, executive director and founder of the sports firm EAG Sports Management; Avani Gregg, gymnast, ballerina and TikToker; Sweta Patel, executive of Roku; Carson Kressley, American presenter, actor, producer and designer; Mario Bautista, Mexican pop singer, and Giselle Blondet, television presenter and Puerto Rican actress. The ceremony also contained a musical number by Grammy singer John Legend.
After Oksana Gennadievna Fyodorova of Russia left the pageant in 2002, Justine Pasek of Panama took over as Miss Universo replacement. Palacios is the second Miss Universo Centro-Americana.
Although many people in the public were unaware of it, El Salvador had previously welcomed a Miss Universe with open arms. The nation hosted the competition back in 1975.
This time, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele used the event to inform the world about the improvements taking place in his country, which had suffered in recent decades from high rates of criminal violence incited by gangs or mobs.
The mandate, dressed in glamorous clothes devoid of his typical blonde hair, declared, “El Salvador has changed forever and we have shown it once again. We have been honored to receive awards, organizers and visitors from different countries. Miss Universo has given us the opportunity to show the world what we are capable of. Thank you for choosing us. I am part of the renaissance of El Salvador.”
After stating that “the things we are living here are only a small part of all the things we aspire to,” he asked everyone to join him in realizing that “El Salvador is the ideal place to fight for our dreams, because too big to be seen.” His ambassadors had told the world as much.
El Salvador had 106 violent fatalities per 100,000 people in 2015, making it one of the nations with the highest homicide rates in the world. Beginning in March 2022, this was no longer the case as Bukele imposed a strict policy against the gangs. During his administration, more than 70,000 people were jailed on suspicion of being gang members or sympathizers with these illegal organizations. Over 90% of them are incarcerated, including one megaprison catering to gangs that once raised concerns about potential human rights abuses.
Nevertheless, El Salvador reports a substantial decline in homicides, and the measure is well-liked by the general public. Prior to Bukele’s address at the televised ceremony, Miss El Salvador emphasized the president’s initiatives to overturn the status quo in her nation with a prerecorded statement.
Regarding the 84 Miss Universo contestants, they demonstrated confidence and excitement when participating in events in El Salvador. In addition to practicing surfing, take in the capital, beaches, mountains, and lakes. Additionally, they engaged with fans in shopping malls, where they would walk for miles to have their photos taken, and occasionally in the capital’s historic district, which used to be a band’s home, where they would dance to the beat of tropical music with the Locals.
