Nicaraguan Sheynnis Palacios was crowned the most beautiful woman in the world on Saturday, November 18th, during the 72nd Miss Universe competition in El Salvador. This marks Nicaragua’s first victory in this competition.
The Thai contestant was crowned the first runner-up, and the Australian Moraya Wilson secured the third position. Diane Leyre, Miss France 2022, did not manage to make it to the top 20 and was not ranked in this competition.
Sheynnis Palacios, 23 years old, received the crown from the American R’Bonney Gabriel, Miss Universe 2022. The newly crowned most beautiful woman in the world, who triumphed over the other 83 contestants who showcased their beauty in swimsuits, evening gowns, and traditional costumes, emphasized humility and gratitude as her main qualities.
In response to the final question from the jury, the Nicaraguan candidate highlighted the importance of wage equality for women to be able to “work in any field.” She asserted, “There are no limits for women.”
This year also marked a moment of modernization for the Miss Universe competition, as a rule change allowed married women and mothers to participate for the first time, a prohibition in place since 1957.
The 28-year-old Colombian Maria Camila Avella and Michelle Cohn from Guatemala were the first mothers to participate. The former succeeded in being among the top five finalists in a competition that the organizers expressed a desire to make more inclusive.
