Who is Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios, the winner of Miss Universe 2023?

Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios was crowned Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador on Saturday, beating competitors from over 80 countries to claim the Central American nation’s first ever victory in the global beauty pageant.

Who is Sheynnis Palacios?

Palacios, 23, is a graduate in mass media from the Universidad Centroamericana in Managua, Nicaragua.

She was crowned Miss Teen Nicaragua in 2016 and, seven years later, won Miss Universe Nicaragua to earn her place at this weekend’s Miss Universe.

Palacios also competed at the rival pageant Miss World in 2021, having won Miss World Nicaragua in 2020. She placed in the top 40 at Miss World.

Crowned by 2022 winner Gabriel

At Miss Universe in San Salvador, the Salvadoran capital, Palacios secured the 2023 title ahead of Thailand’s Anntonia Porsild, with Australia’s Moraya Wilson completing the podium.

The winner of Miss Universe 2022, the United States’ R’Bonney Gabriel, was on hand to place the ‘Force for Good’ crown, valued at over $5 million, on her successor’s head.

The lowdown on the ‘Force for Good’ crown

Made by the Lebanese jewellers Mouawad, the crown was first used at last year’s contest, and is set with 48.12 carat of diamonds and 108.44 carat of sapphires.

“Through its motifs of rippling waves and a color gradient that grows in intensity from white diamonds at the base toward the deepest blue sapphire at its pinnacle, the crown symbolizes the dynamics at play when taking action to bring about any fundamental change,” Mouawad say.

“The ultimate goal of change for good is represented by a 45.14 carat royal blue sapphire that stands victorious at the peak of the crown.”

Miss Universe 2023: results