Priyanshi Pareek reports on Miss Universe 2023..
The 72nd Miss Universe pageant took place at the Gimnasio Nacional José Adolfo Pineda in San Salvador, El Salvador, on November 18, 2023.
Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua was crowned Miss Universe 2023, marking the country’s first victory in the pageant. Competitors from eighty-four countries and territories participated.
The event was hosted by Jeannie Mai and Olivia Culpo, former Miss Universe 2012, for the second consecutive year, accompanied by Maria Menounos.
Backstage correspondents Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Zuri Hall returned for their second stint, while John Legend graced the stage with a performance.
Selection of Participants
In the 2023 edition of the Miss Universe pageant, eighty-four contestants from various countries and territories participated, with five delegates appointed through runner-up positions or casting processes.
For the first time since 1957, married women and mothers were allowed to compete. This diverse roster was applauded by media outlets for its inclusivity.
Notably, Rikkie Kollé from the Netherlands and Marina Machete from Portugal joined Ángela Ponce of Spain as the second pair of transgender women to participate in the pageant. Additionally, married women and mothers like Camila Avella of Colombia, Michelle Cohn of Guatemala, and Lorena Santen of Switzerland took part, breaking a longstanding tradition.
Jane Dipika Garrett of Nepal gained recognition as the first plus-sized delegate in the pageant’s history. Erica Robin, Pakistan’s inaugural representative, contributed to the pageant’s inclusivity, although her involvement sparked mixed reactions in her home country.
About Pageant (Format)
The Miss Universe Organization introduced several specific changes to the format for this edition. The number of semifinalists was increased to twenty, the same number of semifinalists in 2019.
The preliminary competition on November 15, including swimsuit, evening gown rounds, and closed-door interviews, determined nineteen semifinalists. Additionally, online voting determined the twentieth delegate advancing to the semifinals. The twenty semi finalists competed in swimsuit, narrowing down to ten, then in evening gown, selecting five finalists. These five finalists participated in interview questions, leading to the selection of three. Finally, the three finalists engaged in a final question round, culminating in the announcement of Miss Universe 2023 and her two runners-up.