(CNN) – This Saturday the Miss Universe 2023 gala took place, where Miss Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios, was crowned for the first time in history.
The 20 chosen included Marina Machete, who made history for becoming the first trans woman to win the title of Miss Portugal, and Miss Nepal, Jane Dipika Garrett, the first plus-size woman to compete in the Miss Universe pageant.
For the first time in history, a woman who is a mother also qualified for the top 5: Camila Avella, representing Colombia. Before this edition, married, divorced, women with children or pregnant women could not take part in the competition.
One of the most memorable moments of the competition was when the contestants paraded down the catwalk in evening gowns during the pre-competition. These are some of the most notable.
Miss Angola, Ana Bárbara Da Silva Coimbra. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Argentina, Yamile Dajud. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Bolivia, Estefany Rivero. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Brazil, Maria Brechane. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Cameroon, Princess Issie. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Canada, Madison Kvaltin. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Chile, Celeste Viel. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Colombia, Camila Avella. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss United States, Noelia Voigt. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Spain, Athenea Paulinha Pérez. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss El Salvador, Isabella Garcia-Manzo. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss France, Diane Leyre. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss India, Shweta Sharda. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Ireland, Aishah Akorede. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Jamaica, Lauren Levy. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Mexico, Melissa Flores. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Nepal, Jane Dipika Garrett. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Pakistan, Erica Robin. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Portugal, Marina Machete. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Peru, Camila Escribens. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Dominican Republic, Mariana Downing. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Miss Venezuela, Diana Silva. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
The Miss Universe 2023 pageant also marked the final year of Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart. After 23 years in office, Shugart announced his resignation, a decision he said was “months in the making” and was not a reaction to recent events. Last week, the competition’s owner, JKN Global Group, filed for bankruptcy (or “corporate restructuring”) in Thailand, although they said the move would have no impact on this year’s competition or the organization in the future.