El Salvador to host Miss Universe 2023 pageant
El Salvador is set to be the host country of the 72nd Miss Universe pageant, which will take place in late 2023.
The special announcement was made at the Miss Universe 2022 competition via a pre-recorded video shared on Sunday, Jan. 15 (Philippine time).
"I am grateful and honored to announce that El Salvador would be the host country of the next Miss Universe pageant at the end of this year,” El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said.
In the clip, Bukele noted that El Salvador is a destination filled with so much beauty and splendor. “We have the best surfing beaches in the world, magnificent volcanoes, exquisite coffee, and we now have become the safest country in Latin America."
“El Salvador is changing and we want you to come and see it for yourselves,” Bukele continued, expressing his gratitude to the Miss Universe organization for being part of the “historic process.”
The 71st Miss Universe tilt was held at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in Louisiana, USA.
Fil-Am Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel was crowned Miss Universe 2022, followed by Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel and Miss Dominican Republic Andreína Martínez as first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively.
Philippines’ Celeste Cortesi didn't manage to make it to the semi-final round of the competition, marking the end of her journey to the Miss U title. Her performance puts an end to the country's years-long streak of placing in the beauty pageant's semi-finals from 2010 to 2021. At the 70th Miss Universe, Beatrice Luigi Gomez of Cebu City finished in the Top 5.