Miss Nicaragua Shenis Palacios won the Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador late Saturday night, wearing her home country’s crown for the first time.
Palacios, a 23-year-old communicator, said he wanted to work on promoting mental health after suffering debilitating anxiety attacks himself.
Miss Thailand Antonia Porsild was the runner-up and Miss Australia Moraya Wilson was the runner-up.
At the 72nd edition, 84 women competed for the crown and posed in swimwear, evening gowns and traditional dress.
When asked by 18th century English writer and philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft which women’s shoes she would spend a year wearing, Palacios answered with her confidence, triumphant seemed to have made sure of that.
Wollstonecraft was an advocate of women’s rights and is considered one of the forerunners of feminism.
This year’s Miss Universe was the first year married women and mothers were allowed to participate.
Another first for the pageant, the event was hosted by an all-female cast.
Miss Universe was last held in El Salvador in 1975.
This year’s event was another opportunity for President Nayib Bukele to tout changes made under his administration, especially greatly improving the country’s safety.