MANAGUA — The Miss Universe Organization said Tuesday that it accepted the resignation of its franchise in Nicaragua of the businesswoman Karen Celebertti, who was not allowed to return to the country and was accused of “conspiracy” after the triumph of the Nicaraguan Sheynnis Palacios in the contest.
The triumph of Palacios, the first Central American to win the world beauty pageant, motivated massive celebrations by Nicaraguans in the streets, which had not been seen since demonstrations were banned in 2018.
“This week we accept the resignation of Karen Celebertti, national director of Miss Universe Nicaragua. We thank her for her exemplary work with our organization over the last 23 years,” the Miss Universe Organization said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.
Celebertti announced his retirement from Mexico on Monday night, after being denied entry to Nicaragua after the pageant, held in El Salvador on November 18. Days later, police charged her with “conspiracy,” “treason,” “money laundering” and other charges.
In addition, her husband Martín Argüello and her son Bernardo Argüello Celebertti were detained in Managua. The newspaper La Prensa reported that the Sandinista regime will release the husband and son of the owner of the franchise, Karen Celebertti in exchange for her ceding control of the contest to the daughter-in-law of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
Triumph free of politics
Celebertti “has asked his followers to highlight Nicaragua’s first international triumph as an achievement free of politics and regional distinctions, which should be celebrated by the entire country and the world,” the Organization said.
“We agree: Sheynnis Palacios is an extraordinary woman, and we are delighted to call her our Miss Universe 2023,” he added.
“Looking ahead, we seek a peaceful resolution of the issues raised by the country of Nicaragua, as well as the safety of all associated with the organization,” he said.
In addition, she expressed that she hopes that Nicaragua “continues to unite and support Sheynnis and Karen in their fight for a future forged by women and to celebrate the beautiful culture and people of Nicaragua.”
Images that circulated on social networks showed Sheynnis Palacios in demonstrations against the government in 2018. Clashes between opponents and pro-government supporters left more than 300 dead that year, according to the UN.
Days after the crowning of Miss Universe, the designated vice president and wife of Daniel Ortega, Rosario Murillo, stated that the opposition was manipulating Palacios’ victory.
“We see the rude use, and the crude and evil terrorist communication, which seeks to turn a beautiful and well-deserved moment of pride and celebration into a destructive coup,” the vice president told official media.
On November 25, the Miss Universe Organization asked the Nicaraguan government to “guarantee” the safety of those affiliated with the local contest of the pageant.
Source: With information from AFP
