Nicaragua's Sheynnis Palacios Crowned Miss Universe 2023

Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua was named Miss Universe 2023 in a stunning ceremony held at the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador. The outgoing queen, R'Bonney Gabriel of Miss Universe 2022, handed up the coveted crown in a glittering ceremony during the 72nd Miss Universe competition.

The competition was tough, with 84 nations and territories sending delegates to this year's pageant. Miss Australia, Moraya Wilson, was named second runner-up, while Miss Thailand, Anntonia Porsild, was named first runner-up.

Shweta Sharda, Miss India, shown composure and skill by reaching the Top 20 but falling short of breaking into the Top 10 and moving further in the competition.

For the first time since the organization's foundation in 1957, the Miss Universe Organization decided to allow married women and those with children to participate in this edition. In addition, musical legend John Legend performed at this year's pageant.

Pakistan made its debut, and other nations, including Denmark, Egypt, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mongolia, Norway, and Zimbabwe, returned. Zimbabwe, for example, last competed in 2001, while Latvia, Guyana, Egypt, and Mongolia returned after varied hiatuses, with others participating in the 2021 edition.