Nicaraguan Sheynnis Palacios won the 72nd edition of the Miss Universe pageant, organized in San Salvador, which featured married, plussize and two trans women for the first time.
In addition to runnerup, Thai Anntonia Porsild, 23yearold Sheynnis Palacios received the crown and sash from her predecessor, American R’Bonney Gabriel. Australian Moraya Wilson took third place.
This is the first time Nicaragua has won the Miss Universe pageant.
Palacios beat 83 competitors who took part in the preliminary rounds during the week.
In her final response to the jury, the representative of Nicaragua emphasized the importance of equal pay so that women can “work in any field.”
“There is no limit for women,” he said.
Colombian María Camila Avella, 28, became the first mother in the event’s history to be among the five finalists.
In addition to the Colombian, Michelle Cohn from Guatemala was another mother who took part in the competition, in an attempt by the organization to make the event more inclusive.
The top 20 included the representative of Portugal, the transsexual Marina Machete, as well as the competitor from Nepal, Jane Garret, the first “plussize” candidate at Miss Universe.
In addition to Machete, another trans woman took part in the competition, the representative of the Netherlands, Rikkie Valerie Kolle.
Organizers announced that the next edition of Miss Universe will be held in Mexico.