Being the first national representative from Nicaragua to wear the famous blue crown and help more children receive free and safe surgery for cleft palate are high on the agenda for the newly crowned Miss World Nicaragua.

On Saturday 15 February, Sheynnis Palacios, a 19-year-old from Managua was crowned Miss Mundo Nicaragua 2020 at the gala coronation night, broadcasted live by Vos Tv.

Over the next year Sheynnis will devote more time to her ‘Beauty With A Purpose’ Smile That Teach project that aims to raise awareness and work with children to provide free surgical care they need to operate on a cleft lip and cleft palate at the Smile Nicaragua Operation Centre.

She said: “I feel shocked. I still can’t believe that a new stage in my life has started. Thank you to all my family and friends who have given me their support during this time. Having the crown and sash, which is not an achievement that’s only mine, it belongs to all of you who have been with me from the beginning. I feel immensely happy. Thank you, Nicaragua."

Crowned by her predecessor María Teresa Cortez, Sheynnis who also won the ‘Beauty With a Purpose’ and Social Media awards, has ambitions to complete her master's degree in cinematography, improve her English and be part of national campaigns to raise Nicaragua's profile internationally and take home the first Miss World crown for Nicaragua.