Nicaragua wins the title of Miss Universe 2023, in a historic crowning moment filled with glamour and tears of joy.

Sheynnis Palacios bagged Nicaragua’s first Miss Universe crown at the end of the more than 3-hour-long coronation night of the pageant held on Sunday in El Salvador. Thailand’s Anntonia Porsild was named first runner-up and Moraya Wilson of Australia was second runner-up.

The final question of Miss Universe 2023 was “If you could live one year in another woman’s shoes who would you choose and why?”.

Miss Nicaragua mentioned Mary Wollstonecraft’s name who is known as the women’s rights activist and mother of feminism.

Anntonia answered, “I would choose Malala Yousafzai because I know the struggles she had to deal with in order to get to where she is today.”

“She (Malala) had to fight for women’s education and fight for all women to be able to stand strong and be the change and lead by example. If I could choose anyone that would be her,” the 27-year-old added.

Miss Australia honored her mother by saying that she would like to step into her mother’s show.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has expressed his appreciation for and congratulated Anntonia Porsild, Miss Universe Thailand 2023, for being voted first runner-up in the final round of Miss Universe 2023 in Sal Salvador in El Salvador today.

Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said the prime minister also praised Anntonia for promoting Thailand’s soft power, in the form of its unique culture, particularly the traditional costume she wore during the beauty contest.

Even though she was not crowned Miss Universe, Chai said that the fact that she was chosen as the first runner-up is a source of pride for the Thai people and brings fame to the country.

Anntonia is the first Thai contestant in 35 years to reach the top 2 in the Miss Universe competition. Two previous Miss Universe contestants from Thailand have, however, won the coveted crown, namely Apasra Hongsakula in 1965 and Porntip Nakhirunkanok in 1988.