Late on Saturday night in El Salvador, Sheynnis Palacios, Miss Nicaragua, clinched the Miss Universe title, becoming the first from her country to wear the coveted crown. At 23 years old, Palacios, a communicologist, expressed her dedication to promoting mental health, a cause she is passionate about due to her personal experience with debilitating bouts of anxiety.
Palacios seemed to solidify her victory with a poised response to the question about which woman’s shoes she would like to step into for a year.
She chose Mary Wollstonecraft, the 18th-century English writer and philosopher, known for her advocacy of women’s rights and regarded as a trailblazer in feminism. Expressing her aspirations, Palacios shared her commitment to narrowing the gender pay gap, aiming to create equal opportunities for women to pursue careers in any field.
The initial warm sentiments, marked by public celebrations in the streets, have waned in the aftermath of the revelation that the 23-year-old participated in a series of contentious demonstrations against the current regime during her time as a student in 2018.
As highlighted by the Associated Press, Palacios’ victory and past social media images showing her involvement in protests have been embraced by those opposed to Ortega and his party.
The origins of the Miss Universe Pageant can be traced back to 1952, although an earlier pageant, the “International Pageant of Pulchritude,” had already used the title “Miss Universe” for its winner.
In 1996, Donald Trump acquired the rights to the annual event and retained ownership until 2015. Complaints arose in recent years from some participants who voiced concerns about the real estate developer and eventual President of the United States frequently being present around the changing areas.
In 2022, the pageant was purchased by Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, a transgender Thai businesswoman who also owns the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.
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