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Central America is filled with joy after the first victory at Miss Universe, thanks to Sheynnis Palacios. A beautiful Nicaraguan who participated in beauty contests from an early school age. In 2023, the Latina made history by being crowned the first Miss Universe from her country, thanks to her charisma, beauty, and stage presence.
Her early challenges
Sheynnis was carving out a path for herself in the television industry after pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Social Communication. Throughout her college years, she played on the volleyball team and helped pay for her education by selling popular local fritters with her mother and grandmother. Her financial struggles contributed to episodes of anxiety, but she has since committed to sharing her experiences to inspire others to pursue their dreams.
“I finished high school on a scholarship; I decided to take that scholarship because otherwise, I wouldn’t have finished my studies. My mom started a beautiful project to sell Nicaraguan desserts. I remember at the start of the last year, I was wearing last year’s shoes, and with much effort, my mom raised money to buy me new pants; I was repeating the backpack.”
Before competing in Miss Universe, Palacios had built a career as a TV host, model, and journalist in her native Nicaragua. She hosted a segment titled “Understand Your Mind,” which focused on mental health issues—a topic she passionately continues to address at every opportunity.
“Take charge of your mental health and, above all, keep pursuing your dreams, fight for them because they will become a reality. I am a clear example of this”
In her early modeling career, Sheynnis clinched the title of Miss Teen Nicaragua in 2016 and advanced to the top 6 at Teen Universe the following year. She was crowned Miss World Nicaragua in 2020 and competed in the Miss World 2021 contest. The competition was held in 2022 after pandemic-related delays, and Palacios made it to the finalists' round. She reached the pinnacle of her beauty career when she won Miss Nicaragua 2023 and was ultimately crowned the winner of the world’s most prestigious beauty contest, Miss Universe.
“I won Miss Nicaragua, people started getting excited, we started putting Nicaragua on the world map, and that filled my soul; it filled me with a lot of motivation to represent our country. I contributed greatly to Miss Universe; I enjoyed it, lived it, and made great friends. The greatest reward and gift God gave me was being Miss Universe 2023.”
An agent of change
Throughout 2024, she has been traveling the world as a Miss Universe ambassador, spreading warmth and love globally while showcasing her artistic talents. She recently appeared on a popular singing show in Thailand, stunning everyone with her impressive vocal skills. Without a doubt, Sheynnis exemplifies the impact of Latin powerhouses on the global stage—women who are ready to shine brightly both regionally and internationally.
“I want to break barriers by paving the way in many topics through my voice. Platforms like Miss Universe give you the space and visibility to create a positive change in society. I want to be different, I want to work for my future and fulfill my dream of being an agent of change”.