The 72nd Miss Universe Pageant concluded Miss Nicaragua as the Miss Universe 2023 at Gimnasio Nacional José Adolfo Pineda on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, (Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, PH time) in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Sheynnis Palacios, 5.11 feet, is a 23-year-old Nicaraguan model. She made history for her country to bring home the first Miss Universe crown. Previously, Sheynnis won Miss World Nicaragua in 2020 and finished in the top 40.
The 72nd Miss Universe Pageant is held in San Salvador, El Salvador with 84 Miss Universe delegates. This is the first time the pageant accepted married women and mothers to compete as part of its “inclusive change” campaign. Furthermore, Pakistan made its debut in this 72nd Miss Universe Pageant.
Meanwhile, Miss China, Qi Jia, lost the opportunity to join the pageant reportedly due to problems in processing her visa but will join in next year’s pageant competition to be held in Mexico.
Moreover, other countries’ organizations that send their representatives to the pageant cut ties with the Miss Universe organization. Vietnam, on February 19, 2023, reportedly joined organizations from Ghana, Belize, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Indonesia to cut ties with Miss Universe. However, the new Miss Universe Indonesia franchise was able to send its delegate to join this year’s pageant.
Also, the 72nd Miss Universe Pageant had seen countries that returned to join the pageant: Denmark, Egypt, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mongolia, Norway, and Zimbabwe.
Miss Universe 2023 Top 20
After its preliminary competition on Nov. 15, 2023, showcasing the national costume competition, the swimsuit, and the evening gown rounds, the pageant unveiled its Miss Universe top 20 semi-finalists during the finals.
- Miss Nicaragua: Sheynnis Alondra Palacios Cornejo
- Miss Spain: Athenea Paulinha Pérez Nsué
- Miss Puerto Rico: Karla Inelisse Guilfú Acevedo
- Miss Namibia: Jameela Uiras Smith
- Miss Venezuela: Diana Carolina Silva Francisco
- Miss India: Shweta Sharda
- Miss Thailand: Anntonia Porsild
- Miss Chile: Celeste Viel Caballero
- Miss Jamaica: Jordanne Lauren Levy
- Miss USA: Noelia Victoria Voigt Briceño
- Miss Nepal: Jane Dipika Elizabeth Bohara Garrett
- Miss Peru: Camila Namie Escribens
- Miss Cameroon: Issie Marie Princesse Ndoun
- Miss Colombia: María Camila Avella Montañez
- Miss Pakistan: Erica Robin
- Miss Australia: Moraya Wilson
- Miss Philippines: Michelle Daniela Marquez Dee
- Miss Portugal: Marina Machete Reis
- Miss South Africa: Bryoni Natalie Govender
- Miss El Salvador: Isabella García-Manzo Gutiérrez
Miss Universe 2023 Top 10
- Puerto Rico
- Thailand
- Peru
- Colombia
- Nicaragua
- Philippines
- El Salvador
- Venezuela
- Australia
- Spain
Miss Universe 2023 Top 5 Finalists
- Australia
- Puerto Rico
- Nicaragua
- Thailand
- Colombia
Miss Universe 2023 Top 3 Finalists
- Miss Thailand — 1st Runner-Up
- Miss Australia — 2nd Runner-Up
- Miss Nicaragua — Miss Universe 2023 winner
Special Awards Winners
- Miss Congeniality — Miss Spain: Athenea Pérez
- Spirit of Carnival Award — Miss Philippines: Michelle Marquez Dee
Voice for Change Winners of the 72nd Miss Universe Pageant
- Gold Winners: Miss Angola: Ana Coimbra; Miss Philippines: Michelle Marquez Dee; and Miss Puerto Rico: Karla Guilfú
- Silver Finalists: Miss Brazil: Maria Brechane; Miss Chile: Celeste Viel; Miss Lebanon: Maya Aboul Hosn; Miss Singapore: Priyanka Annuncia; Miss South Africa: Bryoni Govender; Miss Ukraine: Angelina Usanova; and Miss Zimbabwe: Brooke Bruk-Jackson
Since 2011, Regel Javines has been writing online, sharing news and analysis on a range of noteworthy and urgent social issues. He completed his bachelor’s degree in office administration at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)—Taguig Campus, where he also served as editor-in-chief of the official school newspaper. See Regel’s published articles here.