Meet the New Miss Universe 2023 and the Runner-Ups
Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios
The three-hourlong Miss Universe competition streamed live on Nov 18, from José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador, where 84 women from around the world competed for the coveted title of Miss Universe. And when the ballots were tabulated, the crown for the 72nd Miss Universe was placed on the head of 23-year-old Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios.
After a competition, which featured interviews, evening gowns, swimwear, and community impact competitions, Sheynnis was crowned by the outgoing 71st Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel of the United States.
Who Won Miss Universe tonight?
The winner of Miss Universe was 23-year-old Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios, who became the first Nicaraguan woman to win the title.
The Nicaraguan model, community developer is no stranger to pageants. She previously held the title of Miss World Nicaragua 2020.
Palacios is a native of Managua, Nicaragua. She studied at the Universidad Centroamericana, pursuing a degree in mass communication. At the same time, she played varsity volleyball for the university.
When she made the Top 5, Sheynnis was asked: What qualities and values guide you as a leader and role model for others?
The response that got her into the Top 3 was: "The quality that has inspired me and has inspired millions of women and girls is humility and to be able to appreciate all of the little things, because that’s where the most valuable thing is: the essence of being human."
Then, when she made the Top 3, she was asked: "If you could live one year in another woman’s shoes, who would chose and why?”
Her winning response that helped her clinch the title was: "I would choose Mary Watson-Brad because she opened the gap and gave an opportunity to many women... And 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 choose to work in because there are no limitations for women. That was 1750. Now, in 2023, we're making history."
Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Who was the runner-up to Miss Universe?
The first runner-up was Miss Thailand Anntonia Porsild, 27. The second runner-up was Miss Australia Moraya Wilson, 22.
Related: Miss Universe Announces Major Change for Contestant Eligibility
When is Miss Universe?
The 72nd Miss Universe competition takes place on Saturday, Nov. 18.
Where is Miss Universe taking place?
Miss Universe will be held at the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador.
How to watch Miss Universe?
Miss Universe will stream exclusively on the Roku Channel at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. You can access the channel on Roku.com, Roku TVs, Roku Streaming Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K, Amazon Fire TVs, or Samsung TVs.
Who is the host of Miss Universe?
Miss Universe will be hosted by Jeannie Mai and Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo for the second consecutive time, along with Maria Menounos.
Who are the backstage hosts of Miss Universe?
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Zuri Hall will also serve as backstage correspondents for the second consecutive time.
Who are the performers on Miss Universe?
John Legend will perform at this year's pageant.
Who are the transgender contestants competing in this year’s Miss Universe?
Rikkie Kollé of the Netherlands and Marina Machete of Portugal are the joint second transgender women to compete in the pageant, following Ángela Ponce of Spain in 2018.
Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Who are the married women and/or mothers competing in this year’s Miss Universe?
Camila Avella of Colombia, Michelle Cohn of Guatemala, and Lorena Santen of Switzerland.
Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Peña/Getty Images
Who is the first plus-size contestant competing in this year’s Miss Universe?
Jane Dipika Garrett of Nepal is first plus-size delegate to compete in the pageant.
Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Why will Miss China not be able to compete?
Miss Universe China 2023 Jia Qi was forced to withdraw from the competition when her visa wasn’t approved in time for her to participate. She may compete in the 2024 pageant.
Who won Miss Congeniality?
This year's Miss Congeniality award went to Miss Spain Athenea Pérez, 27, who is the first woman of color to represent her color in the pageant.
Related: Meet the New Miss USA 2023 and the 50 Beauties Who Make Up Her Court
Who made the Top 5?
Australia: Moraya Wilson, 22
Colombia: Camila Avella, 28
Nicaragua: Sheynnis Palacios, 23
Puerto Rico: Karla Guilfú, 25
Thailand: Anntonia Porsild, 27
Who made the Top 10?
Australia: Moraya Wilson, 22
Colombia: Camila Avella, 28
El Salvador: Isabella García-Manzo, 20
Nicaragua: Sheynnis Palacios, 23
Peru: Camila Escribens, 25
Philippines: Michelle Dee, 28
Puerto Rico: Karla Guilfú, 25
Spain: Athenea Pérez, 27
Thailand: Anntonia Porsild, 27
Venezuela: Diana Silva, 26
Who made the Top 20?
Australia: Moraya Wilson, 22
Cameroon: Issie Princesse, 22
Chile: Celeste Viel, 24
Colombia: Camila Avella, 28
El Salvador: Isabella García-Manzo, 20
India: Shweta Sharda, 23
Jamaica: Jordanne Levy, 27
Namibia: Jameela Uiras, 23
Nepal: Jane Garrett, 23
Nicaragua: Sheynnis Palacios, 23
Pakistan: Erica Robin, 25
Peru: Camila Escribens, 25
Philippines: Michelle Dee, 28
Portugal: Marina Machete, 28
Puerto Rico: Karla Guilfú, 25
South Africa: Bryoni Govender, 27
Spain: Athenea Pérez, 27
Thailand: Anntonia Porsild, 27
United States: Noelia Voigt, 24
Venezuela: Diana Silva, 26
Miss Universe Contestants 2023
Albania: Endi Demneri, 25
Angola: Ana Coimbra, 23
Argentina: Yamile Dajud, 27
Aruba: Karol Croes, 27
Australia: Moraya Wilson, 22
The Bahamas: Melissa Ingraham, 26
Bahrain: Lujane Yacoub, 19
Belgium: Emilie Vansteenkiste, 22
Bolivia: Estefany Rivero, 26
Brazil: Maria Brechane, 19
British Virgin Islands: Ashellica Fahie, 28
Bulgaria: Yuliia Pavlikova, 30
Cambodia: Sotima John, 23
Cameroon: Issie Princesse, 22
Canada: Madison Kvaltin, 25
Cayman Islands: Ileann Powery, 26
Chile: Celeste Viel, 24
Colombia: Camila Avella, 28
Costa Rica: Lisbeth Valverde, 28
Croatia: Andrea Erjavec, 23
Curaçao: Kim Rossen, 26
Czech Republic: Vanesa Švédová, 20
Denmark: Nikoline Hansen, 21
Dominican Republic: Mariana Downing, 27
Ecuador: Delary Stoffers, 23
Egypt: Mohra Tantawy, 21
El Salvador: Isabella García-Manzo, 20
Equatorial Guinea: Diana Hinestrosa, 25
Finland: Paula Joukanen, 22
France: Diane Leyre, 26
Germany: Helena Bleicher, 24
United Kingdom Great Britain: Jessica Page, 28
Greece: Marielia Zaloumi, 20
Guatemala: Michelle Cohn, 28
Guyana: Lisa Narine, 26
Honduras: Zuheilyn Clemente, 23
Hungary: Tünde Blága, 27
Iceland: Lilja Pétursdóttir, 19
India: Shweta Sharda, 23
Indonesia: Fabiënne Groeneveld, 23
Republic of Ireland: Aishah Akorede, 24
Italy: Carmen Panepinto, 24
Jamaica: Jordanne Levy, 27
Japan: Rio Miyazaki, 21
Kazakhstan: Tomiris Zair, 20
Kosovo: Arbesa Rrahmani, 22
Laos: Phaimany Lathsabanthao, 28
Latvia: Kate Alexeeva, 29
Lebanon: Maya Aboul Hosn, 25
Malaysia: Serena Lee, 26
Malta: Ella Portelli, 25
Mauritius: Tatiana Beauharnais, 24
Mexico: Melissa Flores, 25
Mongolia: Namuunzul Batmagnai, 24
Myanmar: Amara Bo, 23
Namibia: Jameela Uiras, 23
Nepal: Jane Garrett, 23
Netherlands: Rikkie Kollé, 22
Nicaragua: Sheynnis Palacios, 23
Nigeria : Ugochi Ihezue, 27
Norway: Julie Tollefsen, 28
Pakistan: Erica Robin, 25
Panama: Natasha Vargas, 26
Paraguay: Elicena Andrada, 28
Peru: Camila Escribens, 25
Philippines: Michelle Dee, 28
Poland: Angelika Jurkowianiec, 27
Portugal: Marina Machete, 28
Puerto Rico: Karla Guilfú, 25
Russia: Margarita Golubeva, 22
Saint Lucia: Earlyca Frederick, 25
Singapore: Priyanka Annuncia, 26
Slovakia: Kinga Puhová, 2
South Africa: Bryoni Govender, 27
South Korea: So-yun Kim, 28
Spain: Athenea Pérez, 27
Switzerland: Lorena Santen, 26
Thailand: Anntonia Porsild, 27
Trinidad and Tobago: Faith Gillezeau, 25
Ukraine: Angelina Usanova
United States: Noelia Voigt, 24
Venezuela: Diana Silva, 26
Vietnam: Quỳnh Hoa Bùi, 25
Zimbabwe: Brooke Bruk-Jackson, 21
Which host accidentally announced the wrong Miss Universe winner in 2015?
Miss Universe 2015 host Steve Harvey inadvertently named Miss Colombia the winner when she was the first runner-up. Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, the contestant from the Philippines, had won.
Next, Meet the New Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel from the USA!
