The miss Universe crown is unfortunately not coming back to South Africa.
Local beauty Bryoni Govender was nevertheless “the sunrise over Africa” in Central America where the winner of the 72nd annual Miss. Universe beauty pageant was announced early Sunday morning.
Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua won as Miss 2023. Universe walked away.
This is the first time that a contestant from Nicaragua – the largest country in Central America – has won this prestigious beauty pageant.
Bryoni, runner-up in this year’s Miss. South Africa competition and a favorite to win the title, made the top‑20.
“Congratulations on an excellent Miss. Space travel. You have made the nation proud and we will always stand behind you,” was the Miss. South African organization’s message to Bryoni this morning.
Congratulations @Bryoni_NG ! You look incredible on that stage! ✨
South Africa we made it to TOP 20! ????#missuniversesouthafrica #missuniverse #top20 #72ndmissuniverse #bryoniformisuniverse pic.twitter.com/FDLJRE7RIE
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) November 19, 2023
A total of 84 beauties represented their countries during the 72nd annual Miss. Universe competition – this time in El Salvador – represented.
Thailand’s Anntonia Porsild and Australia’s Moraya Wilson finished in the top three along with Palacios.
South Africa’s Bryoni, who has a law degree from the University of Johannesburg and was admitted as a lawyer in July this year, was described as a front runner in the competition earlier this week after she was one of the top 10 silver finalists in the competition’s Voice for Change project was designated.
Bryoni spoke at the Voice for Change event about her women’s empowerment campaign, Her Way Out.
In her final answer to the panel this morning, Palacios emphasized the importance of equal pay so that women “can work in any field”.
“There is no restriction on women,” said the newly crowned Miss. Universe answered.
The organizers of the Ms. Universe beauty pageant announced this morning that the next Miss. Universe competition will be held in Mexico.
