The Nicaraguan regime, paranoid about any hint of dissidence, initially congratulated Palacios but has since cracked down on celebrations – not least because Palacios herself took part in the 2018 demonstrations, and opponents of the regime have taken her up as a symbol of hope and defiance.
Palacios, 23, became the first Miss Universe from Central America at this year’s competition, held in El Salvador on 18 November.
“It came as a surprise, and triggered spontaneous expressions of delight,” said Elvira Cuadra, a Nicaraguan sociologist who lives in exile in Costa Rica.
Palacios comes from a low-income family who sold fried dough balls known as buñuelos to put her through university. And she took part in the 2018 protests, which sought to topple President Daniel Ortega, a 78-year-old former revolutionary hero who helped end the four-decade Somoza dictatorship but has since turned Nicaragua into an authoritarian state. The protests lasted three months before being crushed, with more than 320 killed.
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Bu hikaye The Guardian Weekly dergisinin December 15, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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