Sheynnis Palacios, a 23-year-old Nicaraguan model and beauty queen, was crowned Miss Universe 2023 on Saturday night in the 72nd annual beauty pageant held in San Salvador.
Sheynnis outperformed 83 other contenders, becoming the first Nicaraguan delegate to win the Miss Universe title.
Sheynnis is no stranger to pageantry, having begun competing in national pageants when she was 16 years old.
Nicaraguan consistently advanced to the next round on coronation night, with good performances in both the swimsuit portion and the evening gown competition.
the Nicaraguan’s aim, according to the Miss Universe organization, is to “work in the service of humanity, by running a newsroom and producing content and commercials for international brands.”
Aside from the Nicaraguan’s victory, there were several other historic firsts at the event, including two mother candidates, two transgender women, and a plus-size individual.
Last year’s winner, R’Bonney Nola Gabriel of the United States, was crowned the next beauty queen.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Anthony Odiong: Nigerian Catholic priest sentenced to life in prison over sexual assault")