In what’s beginning to feel like a foregone conclusion at this point, the winner of the 2023 Miss Universe competition (for the 72nd year in a row!) hailed from a little-known place called — wait for it — Earth. As Alyssa Edwards would say, “rigga morris!”
Broadcast live on Telemundo and the Roku Channel, Saturday’s ceremony welcomed 84 contestants, including the first-ever entry from Pakistan, to San Salvador’s José Adolfo Pineda Arena, where reigning Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel was waiting to crown her successor.
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By the end of the first hour, that number was narrowed down to a top 20: Moraya Wilson (Australia), Issie Princesse (Cameroon), Celeste Viel (Chile), Camila Avella (Colombia), Isabella García-Manzo (El Salvador), Shweta Sharda (India), Jordanne Levy (Jamaica), Jameela Uiras (Namibia), Jane Garrett (Nepal), Sheynnis Palacios (Nicaragua), Erica Robin (Pakistan), Camila Escribens (Peru), Michelle Dee (Philippines), Marina Machete (Portugal), Karla Guilfú (Puerto Rico), Bryoni Govender (South Africa), Athenea Pérez (Spain), Anntonia Porsild (Thailand), Noelia Voigt (United States) and Diana Silva (Venezuela).
Following the swimsuit portion of the competition, a top 10 was revealed: Moraya Wilson (Australia), Camila Avella (Colombia), Isabella García-Manzo (El Salvador), Sheynnis Palacios (Nicaragua), Camila Escribens (Peru), Michelle Dee (Philippines), Karla Guilfú (Puerto Rico), Athenea Pérez (Spain), Anntonia Porsild (Thailand) and Diana Silva (Venezuela).
Those 10 finalists moved forward to the evening gown portion of the competition, set to a live performance of “Wonder Woman” by John Legend, before the top five were announced: Moraya Wilson (Australia), Karla Guilfú (Puerto Rico), Sheynnis Palacios (Nicaragua), Anntonia Porsild (Thailand) and Camila Avella (Colombia).
After a round of randomized questions from this year’s selection committee, a last look and another final question, the long-awaited results were announced. Drumroll please…
THIRD PLACE | Moraya Wilson (Australia)
SECOND PLACE | Anntonia Porsild (Thailand)
WINNER | Sheynnis Palacios (Nicaragua)
This year’s ceremony was presented jointly by Jeannie Mai, Maria Menounos, Olivia Culpo, Catriona Gray and Zuri Hall. The selection committee included, among others, RuPaul’s Drag Race regular Carson Kressley, social media personality Avani Gregg, model (and Miss Universe 2021 runner-up) Nadia Ferreira, singer Mario Bautista, and Roku executive Sweta Patel.
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