SAN SALVADOR. — Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua was crowned the 2023 Miss Universe at the culmination of the annual beauty pageant on Saturday night here.
Anntonia Porsild of Thailand was placed as first runner-up.
The winners of 84 countries’ national pageants had competed at this year’s Miss Universe, judged by a panel including model Halima Aden, “Queer Eye” star Carson Kressley, TikTok influencer Avani Gregg and two former Miss Universe winners, Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad & Tobago (Miss Universe 1977) and Iris Mittenaere of France (Miss Universe 2016).
Brooke Bruck-Jackson, the Zimbabwean representative, was a silver finalist in the Voice For Change category.
Brooke Bruck-Jackson
“Reflecting on my last day at Miss Universe wrapped in @admore, feeling grateful for this incredible journey,” she said on Saturday.
“The show is on tonight and I’m honoured to have been a part of this remarkable experience.
“Thank you to everyone for all your messages, support and love. I see you.”
Twenty semi-finalists were announced at the beginning of Saturday night’s proceedings following the results of the preliminary competition (and a global fan vote).
After the swimsuit round, the field was narrowed to 10 — seeing the elimination of the first “curvy” contestant to make the pageant’s semi-finals,
The evening gown round cut the number of contestants in half again.
Asked in the final round who she would choose to spend a day in the life of, Palacios chose the 18th-century British philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, who she said broke boundaries and “gave an opportunity to many women.”
“There are no limitations for women today,” she added, via a translator. — H-Metro Reporter/CNN.