Nicaragua’s Miss Universe Win Highlights Political Tensions

Nicaragua’s authoritarian government, increasingly distant from global norms, perceived a moment of positive attention with Sheynnis Palacios, Miss Nicaragua, clinching the Miss Universe title. However, this fleeting sense of triumph for President Daniel Ortega’s administration was marred by controversy. Revelations that Palacios was an alumnus of a university central to the anti-regime protests in 2018, and her participation in these demonstrations, sparked widespread criticism.

The win was embraced by the common people in Nicaragua, who face strict prohibitions against protesting or displaying the national flag in demonstrations. They seized the opportunity to publicly celebrate, prominently featuring the national flag instead of the government’s Sandinista emblem, to the government’s displeasure.

Palacios’ triumph, coupled with images from her 2018 protest involvement shared on Facebook, was celebrated by the opposition. Prominent exiled priest Roman Catholic Rev. Silvio Báez expressed gratitude to Palacios for instilling hope and joy in the beleaguered nation.

Vice President and First Lady Rosario Murillo, employing rhetoric likened to North Korea’s, vehemently attacked opposition-run social media platforms for portraying Palacios’ victory as an opposition triumph. Murillo accused these platforms of exploiting the victory for subversive purposes.

Since 2018’s harsh suppression of widespread anti-government protests by Nicaraguan security forces, thousands have sought refuge abroad. The Ortega administration has condemned these protests as a foreign-backed coup attempt. The regime has also targeted the Jesuit University of Central America in Nicaragua, a focal point of the 2018 protests, along with numerous other educational institutions.

Additionally, the government has banned or shut down over 3,000 civic and non-governmental organizations, persecuted and exiled critics, revoked their citizenship, and seized their properties.

Palacios, the first Nicaraguan to win the Miss Universe title, remains silent on the matter. During the competition, the 23-year-old emphasized her commitment to mental health advocacy and gender pay equity. In a now-deleted Facebook post, Palacios shared her initial fears about joining the protests, reflecting the danger involved.

Eyewitnesses recall spotting Palacios, a prominent figure, at the protests, which were swiftly suppressed. Human rights groups report that government forces killed 355 people in these crackdowns.

For further updates on Latin America and the Caribbean, visit AP’s dedicated coverage.

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More about Nicaragua Miss Universe Controversy

• Sheynnis Palacios Miss Universe Victory
• Nicaragua Political Climate and Protests
• Roman Catholic Rev. Silvio Báez’s Reaction
• Nicaraguan Government’s Response to Protests
• Gender Equality and Mental Health in Nicaragua
• Human Rights in Nicaragua
• Daniel Ortega’s Regime