AFTER a fierce competition, Sheyniss Palacios was crowned the 2023 Miss Universe at the annual event hosted at the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in El Salvador.
The beauty queen made history on November 18 as the first ever Miss Nicaragua to win the pageant.
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Who is Sheynnis Palacios?
Sheynnis Palacios is a model and beauty queen who was born in May 2000 in Managua, Nicaragua.
She studied at the Universidad Centroamericana and graduated with a degree in mass communications.
Palacios is an advocate for women's mental health and has been open about her struggles with anxiety attacks.
In a bid to raise awareness for women who may experience similar issues, Palacios started a project named Understand Your Mind.
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The initiative sees Palacios interview different specialists on mental health.
Palacios describes herself as an animal lover who rescues cats and dogs, and she has also stated she enjoys doing puzzles.
When asked who she would choose to spend a day in the life of during the Miss Universe final, Palacios named Mary Wollstonecraft.
She explained that she chose the 18th-century British witer and philosopher because she broke boundaries and "gave an opportunity to many women".
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What competitions has Sheynnis Palacios won?
Prior to winning Miss Universe, Palacios competed in several other competitions.
She won the Miss Teen Nicaragua pageant in 2016, her first contest as a beauty queen.
She then competed in Miss World 2021 and placed in the top 40.
Palacios won the title of Miss Nicaragua 2023, after which she represented Nicaragua in Miss Universe.
The star's win at Miss Universe makes her the first Nicaraguan, and the second woman from Central America, to win the title.
What does Sheynnis Palacios do for a living?
According to her Miss Universe bio, Palacios has a passion for producing and editing video content.
Her career goals include working in the humanitarian sector, and "running a newsroom and producing content and commercials for international brands".
Is Sheynnis Palacios married and does she have children?
Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios is not married and she doesn't have children.
In August 2022, Miss Universe changed its rules to allow married women and mothers to compete for the first time in the competition's history.
In 2023, Miss Colombia Camila Avella became the first married woman and mother to place at the event.
Palacios and Avella were not the only women to make history at the 2023 Miss Universe as there were several other firsts for the competition.
Erica Robin competed as the first ever Miss Pakistan, while Miss Nepal Jane Dipika Garrett became the first body-inclusive contestant to compete.
Miss Portugal Marina Machete also broke a record, becoming the first transgender contestant to place in the top 20.
Who took part in Miss Universe?
In 2023, 84 women from all over the world took to the Miss Universe stage in hopes of being crowned the pageant's winner.
The top 20 was made up of competitors from:
- Colombia
- Puerto Rico
- El Salvador
- Peru
- Philippines
- Spain
- Venezuela
- Cameroon
- Chile
- India
- Jamaica
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Portugal
- South Africa
- United States
Miss Australia Moraya Wilson placed third and Miss Thailand Anntonia Porsild was the runner-up behind Miss Nicaragua.
The competition was presented by TV stars Jeannie Mai, Maria Menounos and Olivia Culpo.
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Culpo won the Miss Universe competition herself back in 2012 and 2023 marked the second time she had returned to host the event.
The judging panel, meanwhile, included Queer Eye and Ru Paul's Drag Race star Carson Kressley, model Halima Aden, TikTok's Avani Gregg and former Miss Universe winners Janelle Commissiong and Iris Mittenaere.
