Nicaraguan Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios Banned from Returning Home, Accused of Treason

Sheynnis Palacios, the 23-year-old Miss Universe from Nicaragua, has been banned from returning to her home country after being accused of treason by authorities for allegedly participating in anti-government protests in 2018 at the age of 17. Palacios, who made history as the first Nicaraguan to win the Miss Universe title, now faces the prospect of being unable to return to her native land.

The accusations against Palacios originate from her alleged involvement in protests against the government of President Daniel Ortega five years ago. The Nicaraguan government has also targeted the director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant, Karen Celebertti, accusing her of intentionally manipulating contests to allow anti-government beauty queens to win as part of a plot to overthrow the government. Celebertti, along with her husband and son, face charges of treason to the motherland.

Palacios, a communications graduate and TV presenter, was crowned the 72nd Miss Universe at the 2023 pageant held in El Salvador. During the competition, she exhibited her pride in her country, wearing a gown inspired by the Nicaraguan flag and a costume representing the Nicaraguan grackle bird species. In the final round, Palacios chose the 18th-century British philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft as the person she would spend a day with, citing Wollstonecraft's role in breaking boundaries and creating opportunities for women.

Since winning the Miss Universe title, Palacios has faced a media blackout in her home country, with only exiled media outlets like Confidencial reporting on her activities. The government's actions against Palacios and the Miss Nicaragua organization are part of a broader pattern of repression, which has seen over 250 journalists, communicators, editors, and other media professionals forced to leave Nicaragua as of March 2024. The crackdown has also included the seizure and closure of universities, the outlawing of civic groups, and the arrest and expulsion of political opponents.

As of April 2024, Palacios has not publicly commented on the accusations against her or the ban on her return to Nicaragua. The situation remains unresolved, with the reigning Miss Universe unable to return to her home country due to the political tensions and the government's allegations of her involvement in anti-government activities.

Key Takeaways

• Nicaraguan Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios banned from returning home for alleged treason
• Palacios accused of participating in 2018 anti-government protests at age 17
• Miss Nicaragua pageant director also charged with treason for "beauty queen coup" plot
• Palacios faces media blackout in Nicaragua, over 250 journalists forced to leave
• Palacios has not commented on accusations, unable to return to Nicaragua as of 2024