Special Awards Miss Universe 2023: Who won the Miss Universe 2023?
Robert Clark
Updated on December 31, 2025
Miss Universe 2023 was the 72nd Miss Universe pageant, held at the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador on 18 November 2023.
The annual beauty pageant concluded on Saturday night in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, with Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua emerging as the 2023 Miss Universe. Thailand’s Antonia Porsild finished as the first runner-up.
John Legend performed on November 18, 2023, in San Salvador, El Salvador, during the 72nd Miss Universe Competition. Four rounds of competition were held for the finalists: evening gown, swimsuit, personal statement, and in-depth interviews.
Special Awards Miss Universe 2023
On November 18, 2023, the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador, hosted the 72nd Miss Universe pageant. As the first competitor from her nation to win the title, Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua created history.
At the end of the competition, Palacios was crowned by the United States’ R’Bonney Gabriel, the reigning Miss Universe. Eighty-four competitors from different nations and regions took part in the competition. Together with Maria Menounos, Jeannie Mai, and Olivia Culpo who was Miss Universe 2012 hosted the pageant for the second time in a row.
Zuri Hall and Catriona Gray, the 2018 Miss Universe, were among the backstage correspondents. John Legend performed at the event, enhancing the glitz of the evening. The Miss Universe pageant this year was an incredible celebration of diversity, beauty, and global representation.
Who won the Miss Universe 2023?
The annual beauty pageant concluded on Saturday night in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, with Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua emerging as the 2023 Miss Universe. Thailand’s Antonia Porsild finished as the first runner-up.
With Sheynnis Palacios’ victory, a woman from Nicaragua has won Miss Universe for the first time. She had previously competed for Nicaragua in the 2021 Miss World pageant and finished in the top 10 of the 2017 Teen Miss Universe competition.
Who is Sheynnis Palacios?
Born in Nicaragua on May 30, 2000, Sheynnis Alondra Palacios Cornejo is a model and former Miss Universe 2023 contestant. She was the first Nicaraguan to win both Miss Universe and one of the Big Four international beauty pageants, having previously been crowned Miss Nicaragua 2023.
Palacios competed as Miss World Nicaragua 2020 in Miss World 2021 before winning Miss Universe, finishing in the Top 40. On May 30, 2000, Palacios was born in Managua, Nicaragua. Palacios received her education at the La Salle Managua Pedagogical Institute, where she also got interested in pageantry after winning the Miss Lasallista beauty pageant.
Following that, Palacios enrolled at the Central American University in Managua, where he eventually earned a mass communication bachelor’s degree. Palacios participated in the varsity volleyball team at her university. Due to her childhood anxiety attacks, Palacios decided to use mental health awareness as her pageant platform. Palacios was a journalist in Nicaragua before she was crowned Miss Universe.
After winning the title of Miss Teen Nicaragua 2016, Palacios joined the pageantry scene in 2016. She then competed in the Teen Miss Universe 2017 pageant on behalf of her nation, finishing in the Top 10.
After that, she took a hiatus from pageants until entering and ultimately winning Miss World Nicaragua 2020. Palacios competed in the Miss World 2021 pageant as Miss World Nicaragua. Originally scheduled for December 16, 2021, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was Miss World 2021. The pageant’s final show was canceled and postponed due to multiple COVID-19 cases that were reported among the contestants and staff two days before the show was scheduled to air.
Only the 40 chosen semi-finalists were invited to return and compete in the rescheduled pageant, which took place on March 16, 2022. Palacios was eventually chosen as one of the 40, but she was unable to move on in the competition.
It was revealed in 2023 that Palacios would be competing for the title of Miss Nicaragua 2023. August 2023 saw the pageant held, and Palacios went on to win the title and the opportunity to represent her nation at Miss Universe 2023.
Palacios competed in Miss Universe 2023 as Miss Nicaragua. The pageant took place in San Salvador, El Salvador, on November 18. As the fifth representative from Nicaragua to make it to the semifinals, Palacios advanced into the Top 20 on the night of the finals. He then went on to the Top 10, Top 5, and Top 3.
After the pageant’s last round of questions, Palacios emerged victorious, defeating Antonia Porsild, the first runner-up from Thailand. After winning all four of the major international beauty pageants, Palacios became the first-ever Miss Universe and the first-ever Nicaraguan winner. Palacios has visited El Salvador while serving as Miss Universe.
Sheynnis Palacios Career
Sheynnis Alondra Palacios Cornejo joined the pageant scene in 2016 after taking home the title of Miss Teen Nicaragua. Her journey continued when she placed in the Top 10 of the Teen Miss Universe 2017 pageant, representing Nicaragua.
After a break, Palacios entered the pageant scene once more in 2020. She won Miss World Nicaragua and went on to represent her nation at Miss World 2021. She overcame obstacles, such as the COVID-19 postponement, to place in the top 40 but was unable to move on in the competition.
Palacios participated in the 2023 Miss Nicaragua pageant, winning in August and qualifying to compete in the Miss Universe 2023 pageant. Palacios made history at the San Salvador event by moving up through the Top 20, 10, 5, and 3.
She became Miss Universe by answering the last question and became the first Nicaraguan to win any of the Big Four international beauty pageants. Since then, Palacios has taken trips in her capacity, one of which was to El Salvador.
Special Awards Miss Universe Winner List
Miss Universe 2023
- Nicaragua – Sheynnis Palacios
1st Runner-up
- Thailand – Anntonia Porsild
2nd Runner-up
- Australia – Moraya Wilson
Top 3
- Thailand – Anntonia Porsild
- Australia – Moraya Wilson
- Nicaragua – Sheynnis Palacios
Top 5
- Australia – Moraya Wilson
- Puerto Rico – Karla Guilfú
- Nicaragua – Sheynnis Palacios
- Thailand – Anntonia Porsild
- Colombia – Camila Avella
Top 10
- Puerto Rico – Karla Guilfú
- Thailand – Anntonia Porsild
- Peru – Camila Escribens
- Colombia – Camila Avella
- Nicaragua – Sheynnis Palacios
- Philippines – Michelle Dee
- El Salvador – Isabella García-Manzo
- Venezuela – Diana Silva
- Australia – Moraya Wilson
- Spain – Athenea Pérez
Top 20
- Nicaragua – Sheynnis Palacios
- Spain – Athenea Pérez
- Puerto Rico – Karla Guilfú
- Namibia – Jameela Uiras
- Venezuela – Diana Silva
- India – Shweta Sharda
- Thailand – Anntonia Porsild
- Chile – Celeste Viel
- Jamaica – Jordanne Levy
- USA – Noelia Voigt
- Nepal – Jane Garrett
- Peru – Camila Escribens
- Cameroon – Issie Princesse
- Colombia – Camila Avella
- Pakistan – Erica Robin
- Australia – Moraya Wilson
- Philippines – Michelle Dee
- Portugal – Marina Machete
- South Africa – Bryoni Govender
- El Salvador – Isabella García-Manzo
Special Awards Miss Universe 2023:FAQs
When did Sheynnis Palacios start her pageant journey?
Sheynnis Alondra Palacios Cornejo joined the pageant scene in 2016 after taking home the title of Miss Teen Nicaragua. Her journey continued when she placed in the Top 10 of the Teen Miss Universe 2017 pageant, representing Nicaragua.
Which international pageant did Palacios compete in after winning Miss Teen Nicaragua?
After a break, Sheynnis Palacios entered the pageant scene once more in 2020. She won Miss World Nicaragua and went on to represent her nation at Miss World 2021. She overcame obstacles, such as the COVID-19 postponement, to place in the top 40 but was unable to move on in the competition.
What historical achievement did Palacios accomplish at Miss Universe 2023?
Sheynnis Palacios became the first Nicaraguan to win any of the Big Four international beauty pageants. Since then, Palacios has taken trips in her capacity, one of which was to El Salvador.
How did Palacios perform in the Miss Universe 2023 competition?
In the 72nd iteration of the competition, 84 women vyed for the title. When asked which woman’s shoes she would most like to spend a year in, Palacios looked to be the clear winner when she said with confidence that she would choose the 18th-century English writer and philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft. Palacios won the title after moving up through the Top 20, 10, 5, and 3.
What title did Palacios hold before winning Miss Universe 2023?
Sheynnis Palacios was Miss World Nicaragua before winning Miss Universe.
As Miss Universe, where has Palacios traveled?
After winning all four of the major international beauty pageants, Palacios became the first-ever Miss Universe and the first-ever Nicaraguan winner. Palacios has visited El Salvador while serving as Miss Universe.