Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua was crowned Miss Universe 2023 on November 28, 2023, in El Salvador, bringing her country its first win. She succeeds Miss Universe 2022, R’Bonney Gabriel from the USA, and will represent the Miss Universe organization in multiple humanitarian causes, such as global warming, world AIDS awareness, and cleft lip awareness. She also won exclusive use of the Mouawad Power of Unity Crown, worth over $6 million, along with a six-figure salary, a scholarship to the New York Film Academy, and apartments in New York, USA, and Bangkok, Thailand.

The competition was the first held under the ownership of Thai company JKN global group, which filed for bankruptcy mere days before the competition, and was judged by a panel comprised of model Halima Aden, “Queer Eye” star Carson Kressley, TikTok influencer Avani Gregg and two former Miss Universes, Janelle Commissong (Miss Universe 1997) and Iris Mittenaere (Miss Universe 2016).

 The competition was also defined with the inclusion of two transgender contestants, Rikkie Valerie Kollé of the Netherlands, and Marina Machete of Portugal, making this the first time Miss Universe has had two trans contestants in the competition. Machete’s top 20 placement marked the first time a transgender woman has advanced in the Miss Universe competition.

 This edition of the competition included the first plus-sized contestant, Jane Garrett from Nepal, and the first Miss Universe Pakistan, Erica Robin, who both placed in the top 20. The 2023 competition is also the first edition to include married women and mothers, of which there were two, Michelle Cohn of Guatemala, and Maria Montañez of Colombia. The latter, further made history by becoming the first married mother to place in the finals, as Montañez achieved a top five placement.

The top 3 of the competition were rounded out by first runner-up Antonia Porsild of Thailand, and second runner-up Moraya Wilson of Australia. Best national costume winner was voted on by fans and given to top 10 finalist Michelle Dee of the Philippines, and congeniality, an award voted by the other contestants, given to another top 10 finalist Athenea Pérez of Spain. 

The Miss Universe Organization has ushered in a new age of pageantry, with the 2024 competition, to be held in Mexico, becoming the first global pageant to have no age limit for contestants.