Sheynnis Palacios celebrates after being crowned Miss Universe 2023 on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.

NICARAGUA’S Sheynnis Palacios made history after being crowned Miss Universe 2023 and becoming her country’s first representative to win the title.

Palacios bested 83 candidates from different parts of the world, succeeding USA’s R’Bonney Gabriel during the pageant’s coronation night held at the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador, on Sunday morning (Manila time).

Landing as 1st Runner-Up was Miss Thailand Anntonia Porsild, while 2nd Runner-Up was Miss Australia Moraya Wilson.

The Philippines’s Michelle Dee settled in the pageant’s Top 10.

All the Top 3 finalists were asked the same question for the last Q&A round, “If you could live one year in another woman’s shoes, who would you choose and why?”

The 23-year-old Palacios answered: “I will choose Mary Wollstonecraft because she opened the gap and gave an opportunity to many women. What I would do, I would want that gap, that income gap, would open up so that women could work in any area that they chose to work in, because there’s no limitation for women. That was 1750. Now in 2023, we’re making history.”

A model and community developer, Palacios debuted in 2016 when she won the Miss Teen Nicaragua 2016 pageant. She represented Nicaragua at the Miss World 2021 pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 16, 2022, where she placed in the Top 40.

Dee lands Top 10

Meanwhile, Dee made the Philippines proud after ending her run, making it to the Top 10. This marked the country’s return to the semi-finals after last year’s non-inclusion of Celeste Cortesi.

During the Evening Gown competition before the announcement of the Top 5, which she failed to enter, the 28-year-old beauty-actress made heads turn when she walked the runway wearing a detailed black gown inspired by Kalinga’s 106-year-old mambabatok Apo Whang-od and created by internationally renowned Filipino designer Mark Bumgarner.

“A tribute to a legendary Filipina who has become an icon, preserving the rich cultural heritage of indigenous tattoo art. She has achieved global recognition and symbolizes timeless beauty, coinciding with Miss Universe lifting its age restrictions, championing inclusivity and challenging age stereotypes,” Dee said in an Instagram post.

“A true icon and the last of her kind, a symbol of bravery, beauty, and inclusivity… Whang Od. This evening gown draws inspiration from the icon, with every stitch crafted passionately and proudly dedicated to our country. It is a creation by my friend and designer of dreams, @markbumgarner,” she added.

Dee was featured as one of the gold awardees for Voice for Change for advocating autism awareness. This category enables delegates from around the world to showcase their character and magnify the social causes they believe in.

She was also the winner of the “Spirit of Carnival” award. This special citation was given by longtime Miss Universe sponsor Carnival Cruises, who handed out the award to a contestant who embodied the carnival’s essence.

The 72nd Miss Universe pageant was hosted by Olivia Culpo, Jeannie Mai and Maria Menounos, with Catriona Gray and Zuri Hall as backstage correspondents. Twelve-time Grammy Award-winner John Legend also performed in the pageant.

The organization announced that Miss Universe will be heading to Mexico in 2024.