Sheynnis Palacios Makes History as Nicaragua’s First-Ever Miss Universe

Sheynnis Palacios has made history at this year’s Miss Universe pageant.

The 23-year-old Nicaraguan model and beauty pageant titleholder was crowned the 2023 Miss Universe at the culmination of the annual beauty pageant, which took place over the weekend in El Salvador’s capital, San Salvador.

Sheynnis PalaciosAnntonia Porsild of Thailand placed as first runner-up.

Palacios’ win marks the first-ever time a Nicaraguan woman has won Miss Universe. She had previously represented Nicaragua in the 2017 Teen Miss Universe pageant, placing in the top 10, and in the 2021 Miss World pageant.

Prior to becoming Miss Universe, Palacios was working as a model, television presenter, and journalist in Nicaragua, and presented a show called Entiende tu mente, which discussed topics related to mental health.

The winners of 84 countries’ national pageants had competed at this year’s Miss Universe, judged by a panel including model Halima Aden, Queer Eye star Carson Kressley, TikTok influencer Avani Gregg and two former Miss Universe winners, Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad & Tobago (Miss Universe 1977) and Iris Mittenaere of France (Miss Universe 2016).

Twenty semifinalists were announced at the beginning of Saturday night’s proceedings following the results of the preliminary competition (and a global fan vote). After the swimsuit round, the field was narrowed to 10 — seeing the elimination of the first “curvy” contestant to make the pageant’s semifinals, Miss Nepal, as well as the first contestant to choose a burkini as their swimsuit, Miss Pakistan. The evening gown round cut the number of contestants in half again.

Miss Colombia Camila Avella and Miss Puerto Rico Karla Guilfú, rounded out the top five, while another member of the top 10, Spain’s Athenea Pérez, was crowned the pageant’s Miss Congeniality.

Palacios succeeds the 2022 Miss Universe, R’Bonney Gabriel of the USA.

Spain’s Athenea Pérez Named Miss Congeniality at Miss Universe Pageant

Athenea Pérez is celebrating a special honor at this year’s Miss Universe pageant.

While she didn’t claim the title, the 27-year-old Spanish model and beauty pageant titleholder was named the 2023 Miss Congeniality.

Athenea Pérez, Miss Spain, Miss Universe, Miss Congeniality,She won the honor after delegates voted for the competitor who inspired her peers with kindness, positivity and enthusiasm. I

In remarks shared by hosts Zuri Hall and Catriona Gray, Pérez said that “her biggest fear this week was forgetting this was a competition because she was so busy socializing and making friends.”

As the delegate of Spain to the Miss Universe pageant, Pérez became the first woman of black descent to represent the country in the Miss Universe pageant.

Athenea Pérez, Miss Spain, Miss Universe, Miss Congeniality,Pérez was born to a Spanish father and an Equatorial Guinean mother.

“I believe that diversity is the future and I’m an example of it,” Pérez said in an interview segment. “Currently, I’m collaborating with children’s villages with immigrant mothers and single-parent households because I was raised by a single mother who is an immigrant and black woman.” She continued, “I know that my story can help to inspire other people. Diversity is here, and diversity is now — it’s today.”

She finished as one of the Top 10 finalists in the pageant.

Jacqueline Bracamontes to Serve as a Spanish-Language Co-Host at This Year’s Miss Universe Pageant

Jacqueline Bracamontes is preparing for a universal role…

The 43-year-old Mexican actress, former model and beauty pageant titleholder will serve as talent for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant, which is set to take place in El Salvador on November 18.

Jacqueline BracamontesBracamontes will be among the Latinx artists serving as talent for Telemundos’ Spanish-language telecast of the pageant.

Bracamontes will co-host alongside Danilo Carrera. Joining them are Andrea Meza, Carlos Adyan and Julia Gama.

The English broadcast of the 72nd annual competition will be hosted by former Extra host Maria Menounos alongside returning hosts Olivia Culpo and Jeannie Mai.

Culpo and Mai hosted the competition last year, replacing Steve Harvey, who had previously hosted the show for a number of years.

The competition will air on Roku and Telemundo in the U.S.

Miss Universe began airing on CBS in 1960. After it was acquired by Donald Trump in 1996, it began airing on NBC in 2003 and remained there until 2014. It aired on Fox between 2015 and 2019, before moving to FYI and Telemundo briefly before airing on Fox in 2021.

The 2023 show will be produced by executive produced Sergio Alfaro and his LA-based production company InventTV, as well as Paula Shugart and Anne Jakrajutatip for Miss Universe.

The Miss Universe Organization is now owned by Thailand’s JKN Global Group.

The show will also feature two backstage correspondents: Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Zuri Hall, co-host of Access Hollywood and NBC’s American Ninja Warrior.

Jacqueline Bracamontes to Co-Host This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards

Jacqueline Bracamontes will be reporting for host duty this week…

The 43-year-old Mexican actress, former model and beauty pageant titleholder will co-host this year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards, taking place on Thursday, October 5.

Jacqueline Bracamontes It will be the first time serving as a host of the awards show for Bracamontes, who won Nuestra Belleza Jalisco 2000Nuestra Belleza México 2000 and represented her country at Miss Universe 2001.

She’ll be joined by fellow first-time host of the show, Danilo Carrera.

The 34-year-old Ecuadorian actor, presenter and model’s credits include El amor invencible, Vencer la ausencia and Contigo sí.

Telemundo also announced the following artists were announced as presenters for the awards show:  Eslabon Armado, Beéle, Christian Chávez (RBD), De La GhettoDanny Lux, La Materialista, Maite Perroni (RBD), Elena Rose, Alex Sensation, Mar Solis and Christopher Von Uckermann (RBD).

This year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida on Telemundo.

Miss Chile Sofia Depassier Named Miss Congeniality at Miss Universe Pageant

Sofia Depassier has made a lasting impression…

The 24-year-old Chilean beauty queen and current Miss Chile may not have made the Top 16 at this year’s Miss Universe pageant, but she didn’t leave home empty-handed.

Sofia Depassier, Miss ChileDepassier was named Miss Congeniality during the pageant, which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel was named the new Miss Universe. Second runner-up went to Andreina Martinez Founier of the Dominican Republic and the first runner-up was Amanda Dudamel of Venezuela.

Gabriel is the first Filipino-American to win Miss USA and according to her official bio, her “mission is for women and young girls to see themselves in her, and feel inspired to conquer their goals by owning who they are.”

The night started off with the Top 16 contestants being revealed following a preliminary competition.

Top 16: Ashley Cariño (Puerto Rico), Mideline Phelizor (Haiti), Monique Riley (Australia), Andreina Martinez Founier (Dominican Republic), Payengxa Lor (Laos), Ndavi Nokeri (South Africa), Telma Madeira (Portugal), Amelia Tu (Canada), Alessia Rovegno (Perú), Tya Jané Ramey (Trinidad & Tobago), Gabriëla Dos Santos (Curacao), Divita Rai (India), Amanda Dudamel (Venezuela), Alicia Faubel (Spain), R’Bonney Gabriel (USA) and María Fernanda Aristizábal (Colombia).

Following the competition of the beauty queens in evening gowns and bathing suits, the Top 5 were revealed to be the following: Amanda Dudamel (Venezuela), R’Bonney Gabriel (USA), Ashley Cariño (Puerto Rico), Gabriëla Dos Santos (Curacao) and Andreina Martinez Founier (Dominican Republic).

After a question round the Top 3 were revealed to be Andreina Martinez Founier (Dominican Republic), R’Bonney Gabriel (USA) and Amanda Dudamel (Venezuela).

The Social Impact Award went to Anna Sueangam-iam of Thailand and Viktoria Apanasenko of Ukraine received the Spirit of Carnival Award.

It was also announced that the next edition of the Miss Universe pageant will take place in El Salvador.

Mexico’s Andrea Meza Crowned Miss Universe

Andrea Meza will be ruling the world…

The 26-year-old Mexican beauty queen, Miss Mexico, was crowned Miss Universe at the 69th annual pageant, which was delayed last year due to Covid-19.

Andrea Meza

“MÉXICO ESTO ES PARA TI,” Meza wrote in the caption of an Instagram post, alongside a video of her after the win was announced.

The competition was held in Hollywood, Florida, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Access Hollywood‘s Mario Lopez and Olivia Culpo, the 2012 Miss Universe, co-hosted the event, which also featured a performance by Luis Fonsi.

Meza beat 73 other women, including Miss Brazil Julia Gama, who was runner-up, and Miss Peru Janick Maceta Del Castillo, who was second runner-up.

Andrea Meza

“I am so honored to have been selected among the 73 other amazing women I stood with tonight,” Meza said in a news release from Miss Universe Organization. “It is a dream come true to wear the Miss Universe crown, and I hope to serve the world through my advocacy for equality in the year to come and beyond.”

In her final statement during the pageant, Meza spoke about beauty standards.

“We live in a society that more and more is more than advanced, and as we advance as a society, we’ve also advanced with stereotypes,” she said. “Nowadays beauty isn’t only the way we look. For me, beauty radiates not only in our spirit, but in our hearts and the way that we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you that you’re not valuable.”

Meza, who is from Chihuahua City, is a model and make-up artist and has a degree in software engineering, according to Miss Universe Organization’s news release.

She is also an activist, and “works closely with the Municipal Institute for Women, which aims to end gender-based violence,” the release said.

Meza also serves as the official Tourism Brand Ambassador for her hometown of Chihuahua, according to Miss Universe Organization.

Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi, the first Black woman from South Africa to win the crown, had held the title since December 2019.

“What a moment!” Meza wrote in another Instagram post, sharing a photo of when she was crowned. “Ready for this journey!”

Meza will move to New York City “to represent the brand and various philanthropic organizations during her reign,” Miss Universe Organization said.

Miss Spain Angela Ponce Makes History as the First Transgender Contestant to Compete for the Miss Universe Title

She didn’t take home the Miss Universe crown, but Angela Ponce has left in indelible mark on the international beauty pageant.

The 27-year-old Spanish model and beauty pageant titleholder, who’d already made history in June as the first transgender woman to ever be crowned Miss Spain, made historyat Miss Universe 2018 as the first transgender contestant competing for the title.

Miss Spain Angela Ponce

Ponce received a standing ovation during the coronation night in Thailand, as well as a special tribute by the beauty pageant organization via a video recognition.

After the video was shown, Ponce walked on stage, removed her sash and held it up triumphantly in the air.

“I don’t need to win Miss Universe. I just need to be here,” Angela said.

Miss Spain Angela Ponce

“What I feel by being the first transgender contestant at Miss Universe is a big sense of responsibility, it gives me a lot of pride, and personally I’m very proud to have made it here,” Ponce said. “I’ve been in the press, on TV, and I’ve put the conservation on the table. It was a topic that was not spoken about, what does it mean being a transgender person.”

Ponce believes that mindsets about the LGBT community are changing.

“Today, there are positive references. People speak about the LGBT community, and the transgender community. Before it was always underground and never spoken about. I think that people are more and more informed. All these prejudices come from disinformation,” Ponce said.

Although Ponce is proud of being a transgender woman, she says the hardest obstacle she has had to overcome is being born into a world that “wasn’t prepared” for trans people.

“We don’t have the same rights, but we have the same obligations. At school, disinformation is what becomes prejudice, the bullying, the fact that you feel alone, excluded. I always say that it’s not that you feel like a woman. You already are a woman. A transgender is not a man or a boy who feels like a woman, she’s already a transgender person,” Ponce explained. “There are no wrong bodies.”

Ponce has advice for all transgender girls and women.

“We have to be happy, feel free, go with the flow, have less prejudices, have more love and be more tolerant of everything,” she said.

Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Give High-Octane Performance of “Despacito” at the Grammys

Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee may not have taken home a gramophone, but they did leave a lasting impression..

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican singer and 40-year-old Puerto Rican wowed the crowd with a high-octane performance of their record-smashing international hit “Despacito.

Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee

Fonsi and Yankee performed the worldwide smash flanked by a collection of dancing, scantily clad women. The audience vigorously danced and bopped their heads along to the dance hit. Former Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera runway-walked onto the stage in a gold and nude bodysuit before twerking between the pair.

By the end, male and female dancers were grinding all over the stage to the song as Rivera sauntered off.

The remixed version of the reggaeton-pop track featuring Justin Bieber was up for three awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The remix won Best Urban/Fusion performance at the 2017 Latin Grammys, and the original version earned Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video.

“Despacito” – which Rolling Stone named the seventh-best song of 2017 – helped spark a Latin-pop revolution last year: The song’s video became the top-viewed clip in YouTube history, racking up nearly 5 billion views – and six of the site’s top 10 most-viewed music videos were from Latin artists.

Zuleyka Rivera to Perform at This Year’s Grammy Awards

Zuleyka Rivera is ready for music’s biggest night…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican actress and former Miss Universe will perform at this year’s Grammy Awards, which will take place on Sunday, January 28.

Zuleyka Rivera

Rivera is featured in the music video for Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s global smash, “Despacito.”

After completing her commitment as Miss Universe, Rivera studied acting in New York. Eventually, she snagged parts on a whole slew of Televisa soap operas in Mexico, including playing the part of the main villain in 2014’s Cosita LindaCurrently, she’s based in Miami where she’s a special guest/host on Latin shows such as Telemundo’s Un Nuevo Dia and Univision’s Despierta America.

Rivera joins a roster of performers that includes Alessia Cara, Bruno Mars and Cardi B, Childish Gambino, Daddy Yankee, DJ Khaled with Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, Luis FonsiLady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and more.

The 60th Annual Grammy Awards will air on Sunday, January 28 at 7:30 pm EST.

Nazario Releases Video for “Soy Tuya,” Dedicated to Her Native Puerto Rico

Ednita Nazario is celebrating La Isla del Encanto

The 61-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter has released her new single “Soy Tuya,” which she dedicated to Puerto Rico’s baseball team.

Ednita Nazario

Nazario premiered the song in her social media, along with an emotive lyric video.

The clip shows the beautiful island scenery and great achievements of different personalities like Zuleyka Rivera winning the Miss Universe crown, boxer Tito Trinidad, tennis player Monica Puig winning the gold medal in the 2016 Olympic Games and, of course, the Puerto Rico baseball team during the World Baseball Classic 2017.

“Seeing my country, Puerto Rico, united is the greatest joy that I can feel, she wrote, adding: “Thank you for giving the best of you and we will continue to do the same: give ourselves in body and soul to a productive and positive life for ours and for everyone.”

This year, Puerto Rico’s team made its presence felt after reaching the finals without losing a game and uniting an entire country. They also generated a polemic movement: all the players decided during the series to dye their hair blond, immediately going viral. From young people to singers like Victor Manuelle, Ken-Y and Wisin (with a wig) also joined the movement and went blond.