IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Get to know Sheynnis Palacios, first Miss Universe titleholder from Nicaragua

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Updated 5:31 p.m.

This year’s Miss Universe crown was won by Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, whose beauty and brains secured for her country its first-ever victory from the global tilt. 

The 23-year-old Latina beauty queen competed with 83 other delegates at the coronation night in El Salvador on Nov. 18, and triumphantly won the hearts of the judges as well as pageant aficionados. Aside from Palacios’ evident beauty and allure, there is actually a lot more going for her. 

Interviewed by ABS-CBN News in El Salvador , Palacios said she feels happy and grateful to have made beauty pageant history for her country, truly an achievement to be proud of.

Here are some facts about the Miss Universe 2023 titleholder for fans to get to know her more:

She started joining beauty pageants when she was 15 years old

Palacios, who has always dreamed of becoming a beauty queen, entered the world of pageantry when she was just 15 years old.

Prior to her Miss Universe journey, she already joined several competitions including Miss Teen Nicaragua pageant in 2016, and the Miss World 2021 where she finished as part of the Top 40 finalists.

A communications degree holder

Palacios earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Universidad Centroamericana or Central American University–Managua in 2022. She is also planning to pursue a master’s degree and start her own audiovisual production company. 

“Her goal in life is to work in the service of humanity, by running a newsroom and producing content and commercials for international brands,” the Miss Universe Organization spoke of the beauty queen. 

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A TV host, editor and producer

Using her communications degree, Palacios entered the field of entertainment as a TV host, editor and producer for local TV channels in Nicaragua. 

“If I got to talk to little 5-year-old Sheynnis, I wouldn’t believe that in the not too distant future I would be working with big screen characters…great characters I watched every morning and they were role models for me. I can only tell you that God is great and good,” the beauty queen spoke of her hosting stint. 

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A mental health advocate

Having a first-hand experience of severe anxiety, Palacios underscores the importance of mental health through her program “Understand Your Mind.” This initiative serves as a platform wherein Palacios tackles mental health with experts and specialists for viewers to better understand themselves. 

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Aside from this, Palacios is also aiming to author a book for those who are struggling with mental health problems. 

A fur mom and an animal rescue advocate

Palacios has six dogs and two cats whom she treats as members of their family. The beauty queen has also used her social media platforms to help initiatives which find homes for abandoned cats and dogs. 

A fan of Miss Universe titleholders Andrea Meza, Catriona Gray

When asked who is her “favorite Miss Universe winner” during an interview with ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo, Palacios named Andrea Meza and Catriona Gray who won the pageant crowns in 2020 and 2018, respectively. Palacios said she admires them for being genuine and for their humility despite their successes. 

“Iconic women in the beauty pageant,” she described Meza and Gray.