Nicaragua

 Miss Universe crowns first-time winner

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

In a year rife with new developments and controversies - from lifting the age requirement to allowing young mothers and transwomen to participate - the Miss Universe Organization crowned a new winner, and a first-timer at that! It somehow dispelled rumors that the new queen was pre-ordained.

Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua bested 83 other international delegates at the close of glitzy rites to be crowned the 72nd Miss Universe titleholder, and the very first for her country. A consistent crowd favorite from the very start, including pageant leaderboards, Palacios effortlessly eased her way to the hotly-contested crown.

Former Miss Supranational and Thai candidate Anntonia Porsild was named first runner-up while Australian bet Moraya Wilson was proclaimed second runner-up. Completing the Top 5 list were Karla Guilfu Acevedo of Puerto Rico and Camila Avella of Colombia, a proud mother of two.

Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee ended her journey with a much-deserved Top 10 finish. She was also one of three Gold winners of the Voice for Change advocacy project contest. Michelle shares the accolades with fellow winners Karla Guilfu Acevedo of Puerto Rico and Ana Barbara da Silva Coimbra of Angola. All three delegates will each receive $12,000 to further fund their respective outreach projects from Mouawad and CITalks.

Together with Michelle Dee, Camila Esribens (Peru),  Isabella Garcia-Manzo (El Salvador), Diana Silva (Venezuela), and Athenea Perez (Spain) competed in the Evening Gown segment after the Top 10 announcement.

If this year's edition is a portent of more good things to come in future Miss Universe editions, we laud the organization's innovations. With Pakistan's Erica Robin in the Top 20, this shows the MUO is recognizing new platforms and perspectives. Nepal's Jane Dipika Garrett is the swan song for body positivity that will, henceforth, echo in years to come. Portugal's Marina Machete has cemented the voice of the LGBTQIA+, first championed by Spain's Angela Ponce in 2018. And finally, Colombia's Camila Avella has made married women and mothers prouder than their roles as parents. This new all-inclusive mindset has brought all these myriad campaigns and crusades to the forefront of the most-anticipated pageant in the universe.

The other lucky delegates in the Top 20 - Shweta Sharda (India), Jameela Uiras (Namibia), Celeste Viel (Chile), Jordanne Levy (Jamaica), Noelia Voigt (USA), Issie Princess (Cameroon), and Bryoni Govender (South Africa) - all bask in the glory of the moment, especially for countries who have placed in the semis for the first time.

Kudos to this year's selection committee - comprised of Miss Universe 1977 Janelle "Penny" Commissiong, Carson Kressley, Avani Gregg, supermodel Halima Aden, Dr. Connie Mariano, Mario Bautista, Sweta Patel, actor Giselle Blondet, Denise White, and Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere - who chose well and wisely.

Rarely can a head of state be seen on the Miss Universe stage, but, this year, El Salvador president Nayib Bukele not only extended his country's hospitality to the delegates and guests but also thanked them personally. Like its hosting of the 1975 Miss Universe edition, El Salvador has exceeded expectations once again.

Hosted by Maria Menounos, Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo, and Jeannie Mai, with backstage correspondents Zuri Hall and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, the 72nd Miss Universe coronation ceremonies was beamed live from the Jose Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador.