Nicaraguan woman crowned Miss Universe 2023, Thai candidate in 2nd place

Nicaragua's Sheynnis Palacios was crowned Miss Universe 2023, with Thailand's Anntonia Porsild coming in second.

Sheynnis, 23, a model and social developer, became the first Nicaraguan to win the title.

Anntonia, 27, took first runner-up spot, earning the country's highest ranking since 1988.

See: Thai and Danish beauty crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2023

The Miss Universe 2023 pageant finale was held at the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador, on Sunday, November 19.

Millions of people around the world were glued to their television screens on Sunday.

#MissUniversThaland2023 and Anntonia's name in Thai became the top two X-rated trends in Thailand throughout Sunday morning.

As of 11 a.m., #MissUniverseThailand2023 was mentioned in more than 1.47 million tweets.

This year, the competition followed a pre-selection system for participants: last 20, last 10, last 5 and last 3 before the winner of the title was announced.

In the final five round, both Sheynnis and Anntonia impressed with their answers.

Anntonia got a 9.8 for her answer and Sheynnis got a 9.7.

Question posed to Miss Nicaragua: “What are the qualities and values ​​that guide you as a leader and role model for others?”

She replied:

“The quality that has inspired me and millions of women and girls is humility and the ability to appreciate all the little things, because that is where the most precious thing is: the essence of being human.”

Question posed to Anntonia: “If you could talk to a roomful of students about online bullying, what would you say?”

She replied:

“I would say don't listen to what people have to say because at the end of the day, everyone has the right to their own opinion, but it's up to us how we react to it.

Using our voice to stand up for what's right, and being the change we want to see in the world by leading by example.

Don't listen to hate because it doesn't shape us, but what shapes us is how we get back up and move forward from there."

The Thai public applauded and flooded social media with congratulatory messages at every step of Anntonia's progress.

Many Thais cheered Anntonia when she appeared in a traditional costume, which portrayed her as a goddess from the ancient Ayutthaya period.

Anntonia Porsild looks stunning in Ayutthaya goddess costume. Photo: The Nation Thailand

She was dressed as a mythical earth goddess with long hair which she grasped and squeezed to release water to drive out demons to protect the future Buddha , according to Thai legend.

See: Thailand's dazzling Miss Universe 2023 contestant

The beauty queens who qualified for the final five are: Moraya Wilson (Australia), Karla Guilfú Acevedo (Puerto Rico), Sheynnis Palacios (Nicaragua), Anntonia Porsild (Thailand) and Camila Avella (Colombia).

Anntonia, Moraya and Sheynnis then found themselves in the final round of three before Miss Nicaragua was crowned Miss Universe.

Sheynnis was born on May 30, 2000.

She studied at the Universidad Centroamericana and graduated with a degree in Mass Communication.

At the same time, she played volleyball for the university.

Sheynnis made her showbiz debut in 2016, when she won the Miss Teen Nicaragua 2016 pageant.

As Miss Teen Nicaragua 2016, she represented her country at Teen Universe 2017, in Managua, Nicaragua, where she placed in the top 10.

Sheynnis previously competed in Miss World 2021 as Miss World Nicaragua 2020, placing in the top 40.

She was later crowned Miss Universe Nicaragua 2023, becoming the country's representative in the pageant.

Anntonia congratulated by the government

Anntonia Porsild in traditional costume at the Miss Universe Thailand 2023 competition.

Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke revealed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's congratulations to Anntonia for her commendable performance.

He said Anntonia had brilliantly presented Thai culture to the world, especially through her traditional clothing.

The dress, inspired by the Earth Goddess sculpture from the Ayutthaya period (14th-18th century), beautifully represented Thailand's soft power.

“Anntonia's first runner-up title, even if it wasn't the crown, put Thailand's reputation on a global platform.

"As Thai people, we are very proud of his achievement," the government spokesman said.

Source: Thai PBS World