Miss Universe 2023 to take place in El Salvador

The Central American country last hosted the beauty pageant in 1975

Alejandra Guajardo, Miss Universe El Salvador 2022, in an outfit inspired by the country's use of Bitcoin, and previously the cocoa beans as a currency, during the 71st Miss Universe competition on January 11, 2023. ReutersShow less

After a glitzy 2022 finale in Louisiana, it's been announced that Miss Universe 2023 is heading back to the Americas and will be held in El Salvador.

No date for the next competition has been officially announced, although it's expected to be held later this year, after last year's pageant was postponed in a bid to avoid clashing with the Fifa Qatar World Cup in November.

The announcement was made by the country's President Nayib Bukele during the 71st Miss Universe in New Orleans, where Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel took the crown, becoming the first Filipina-American to win the competition.

Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel celebrates after winning the 71st Miss Universe competition at the New Orleans Ernest N Morial Convention Centre in Louisiana. AFP

Gabriel on stage after being crowned Miss Universe at the 71st Miss Universe pageant, in New Orleans. AP

Gabriel, back to camera, is hugged by other contestants after being crowned Miss Universe. AP

Gabriel celebrates after her win. Reuters

From left, Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel, Miss USA Gabriel and Miss Dominican Republic Andreina Martinez hold hands before the final verdict during the 71st Miss Universe competition in Louisiana. AFP

Gabriel reacts after being picked among the final three contestants in the final round. AP

The final five contestants, from left, Miss Dominican Republic Martinez, Miss Curacao Gabriela Dos Santos, Miss Puerto Rico Ashley Carino, Miss USA Gabriel and Miss Venezuela Dudamel. AP

Thai businesswoman and owner of Miss Universe pageant Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip speaks during the 71st Miss Universe competition. AFP

Contestants take part in the final round. AFP

Gabriel on stage. Reuters

Miss Trinidad and Tobago Tya Jane Ramey. Reuters

Miss Spain Alicia Faubel. Reuters

Miss Australia Monique Riley. AFP

Miss Canada Amelia Tu. Reuters

Miss Haiti Mideline Phelizor. Reuters

Jakrajutatip, left, as owner of the Miss Universe Organisation, presents the ImpactWayv Challenge Award to Miss Thailand Anna Sueangam-iam. AP

Miss Colombia Maria Fernanda Aristizabal reacts after being selected as the last of the 16 finalists. AP

Jeannie Mai Jenkins and Olivia Culpo host the competition. Getty Images

Miss Seychelles Gabriella Gonthier walks through the crowd with fellow contestants for the start of the final round. AP

"El Salvador is a country that is full of beauty," said Bukele in a recorded video. "We have the best surfing beaches in the world, magnificent volcanoes, exquisite coffee and we have now become the safest country in Latin America.

"I would like to thank the Miss Universe Organisation for joining us in this historic process. El Salvador is changing and we want you to come and see it for yourselves."

Officially known as the Republic of El Salvador, the country is in Central America, sharing borders with Honduras and Guatemala.

It last held the pageant in 1975, in San Salvador, when Miss Finland took the crown.

The US has held the pageant more than any other nation, but other host countries have included Thailand, the Philippines, Russia, Vietnam, Greece, Cyprus, South Korea and Singapore, to name a few.

In 2021, when India's Harnaaz Sandhu came in first, it was held in Israel for the first time.

Major changes at Miss Universe afoot

While more information on the competition and venue are yet to be announced, fans can expect major changes in the pageant this year.

In October, Thai media and content company JKN Global Group acquired the Miss Universe Organisation from IMG, making chief executive Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip the first woman to own the global beauty competition in its 70-year history.

JKN, which owns a portfolio of broadcast and media titles, said the deal will build on the pageant's legacy and further its commitment to inclusivity. There are also plans to expand the Miss Universe brand, including the launch of MU Lifestyle, a new licensing and merchandising arm.

Last year, the Miss Universe Organisation made a historic decision to change qualification rules for contestants for the first time in seven decades. According to an internal memo seen by The National, the organisation said it will allow married women and mothers to participate.

Previously, only single women, aged between 18 and 28, who have never been married or had children, could apply.

"We all believe that women should have agency over their lives and that a human's personal decisions should not be a barrier to their success," the memo said.

The rules will be in effect for the 72nd Miss Universe contest.

Israel bows out

In November, for the first time in seven decades, Israel announced it would not send a beauty queen to the 2022 Miss Universe pageant.

The Miss Israel organisation released a statement, saying it would not participate in the pageant, which was founded in 1952.

The Times of Israel reported that opinions in the country were divided on whether or not beauty pageants remain relevant in 2022.

The announcement was made a year after the Israeli southern resort city of Eilat hosted the global pageant.

It remains to be seen if any other nations will follow suit this year.

Scroll through the gallery below to see Miss Universe 2022 national costume round

Miss India, Divita Rai, during the 71st Miss Universe national costume competition. All photos: AFP

The dress worn by Miss Bahrain, Evlin Khalifa, was designed by Furne One, whose Amato label is based in Dubai

Miss Lebanon, Yasmina Zaytoun

Miss Philippines, Celeste Cortesi

Miss Colombia, Maria Fernanda Aristizabal

Miss The Bahamas, Angel J Cartwright

Miss Vietnam, Neuyen Thi Ngoc Chau

Miss Poland, Aleksandra Klepaczka

Miss Armenia, Kristina Ayanian

Miss Peru, Alessia Rovegno

Miss Netherlands, Ona Moody

Miss Mexico, Irma Cristina Miranda Valenzuela

Miss Turkey, Aleyna Sirin

Miss Iceland, Hrafnhildur Haraldsdottir

Miss Argentina, Barbara Cabrera

Miss British Virgin Islands, Lia Claxton

Miss Nigeria, Hannah Iribhogbe

Miss El Salvador, Alexjandra Guajardo Sada

Miss Cameroon, Mouketey Lynette Monalisa Jelly

Miss Kyrgyzstan, Altynai Botoyarova

Miss Malta, Maxine Formosa Gruppetta

Miss Spain, Alicia Faubel

Miss Seychelles, Gabriella Gonthier

Miss France, Floriane Bascou

Miss China, Sichen Jiang

Miss Ukraine, Viktoria Apanasenko

Miss Korea, Hanna Kim

Miss Jamaica, Toshami Calvin