May mga masalimuot na kuwento sa likod ng tagumpay ni Sheynnis Palacios ng Nicaragua sa katatapos lamang na Miss Universe 2023.
Read: Sheynnis Palacios on Miss Universe 2023 win: “It's history for my country.”
Una, hindi pinayagan ng pamahalaan ni Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega na makabalik sa kanilang bansa ang national director ng Miss Universe Nicaragua na si Karen Celebertti ang anak nito.
Ito ay dahil sinuportahan nila ang pagsali ni Palacios sa 72nd Miss Universe na naganap sa El Salvador noong Nobyembre 18, 2023.
Pinabalik si Celebertti, na dating finalist sa Miss Nicaragua 1991, at ang kanyang anak sa Mexico.
Pangalawa, ipina-ban ng Nicaraguan authorities ang dalawang muralists na gumawa ng artistic mural ng mukha ni Palacios bilang parangal nila sa kauna-unahang Miss Universe ng kanilang bansa.
Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa naglalabas ng pahayag si Celebertti tungkol sa marahas na desisyon ni Ortega at ng asawa nitong si Rosario Murillo.
Si Murillo ang bise-presidente ng Nicaragua mula pa noong 2017, at siya rin ang First Lady ng naturang bansa mula pa noong 2007.
Hinihinalang may kinalaman sa pulitika ang naging trato kay Celebertti, na minsan nang nakulong noong March 2019 dahil kabilang siya sa mga kritiko ng pamahalaan ni Ortega.
Ipinagbunyi ng Nicaraguan government ang tagumpay ni Palacios sa Miss Universe 2023 dahil sa kanilang pahayag na “Nicaragua celebrate with its queen!”
Pero kamakailan lamang, kinondena ni Murillo ang pagsasaya na ginawa ng kanyang mga kababayan.
Sabi niya, “They intend to turn a beautiful and well-deserved moment of pride and celebration into a destructive coup.”
Pinaghihinalaang may kinalaman ang reaksiyon ni Murillo sa lumitaw na litrato ni Palacios nang sumali ito sa isang kilos-protesta laban sa pamahalaan nila ng kanyang asawa noong 2018.
Social communications graduate si Palacios sa Jesuit Central American University na ipinasara noon ni Ortega dahil sa mga estudyanteng kritiko ng kanyang pamamalakad.
Matapang na isinulat ni opinion writer Fidel López Eguizábal ng La Prensa Grafica ang kanyang saloobin tungkol kay Palacios bilang Miss Universe at sa mga paninikil na nangyayari sa mga mamamayan sa Nicaragua.
Bahagi ng mapanuring panulat ni Eguizábal sa wikang Spanish, na isinalin sa English ng Google translator: “As a communicator, she is well aware of the problems that Nicaragua faces, especially poverty (44%) and many inequalities.
"Her triumph, in this beauty contest, must take her, not only to help many girls, as she said before receiving the crown, but to give a message to her people, to the world. You need to have a change in government.
“Miss Palacios, you know that Ortega, your president, who is not loved by many nations, and by many Nicaraguans, because he is an anti-democratic government, he has exiled those who are not in favor of his government, has political prisoners, has closed newspapers, has persecuted journalists, has silenced the voice of Catholics and many atrocities against humanity. Ortega has made a mockery of the Magna Carta.
“The Sandinista regime is the first thing he will have to deal with.
“You exhorted, ‘This story is beginning and will bring great changes for the women and girls who are the constructs of our society.’
"It won't be easy with Ortega as president. Let's hope everything goes well for him. You are not a politician; however, it can influence from another trench to change the situation in Nicaragua, a country that has a long history.
“The winner of the 1977 OTI Song Festival, Carlos Mejía Godoy, sang 'Quincho Barrilete,' a song that speaks of Nicaraguan drama, of children who have to do hard work instead of playing spinning top or hide and seek.
“Has the situation of many Nicaraguan children and young people changed? In Central America there are many Quincho Barrilete, there are still many cardboard houses.
“From now on, Nicaragua has been empowered, tourism will increase. I assure you that many will want to get to know their country and, therefore, the neighborhood where they live.
"Your reign is a hopeful message, you mentioned the English writer Mary Wollstonecraft, who in the seventeenth century was already advocating equal opportunities for women.
“You know well that your country, Nicaragua, is being questioned for not following the straight line of democracy.”
Naniniwala si Eguizábal na naghatid ng liwanag ng pag-asa si Palacios sa Nicaragua nang manalo itong Miss Universe 2023.
Hindi pa inihahayag ng Miss Universe Organization ang araw ng pag-uwi ni Palacios sa Nicaragua para sa homecoming parade nito, pero nangangamba ang kanyang mga kababayang maaaring magkaroon din ng problema sa pagbabalik niya dahil sa mga political issue.
Nang magwaging Miss Universe si Palacios, sumugod sa mga kalye ang mga Nicaraguan para ipagbunyi ang kanyang tagumpay.
Isinigaw nila ang pangalan ng beauty queen habang iwinawagayway ang mga mini-flag ng Nicaragua na isang paglabag sa mga utos ni Ortega, ayon sa opinion columnist na si Xavier Ruiz Ribes ng La Prensa Nicaragua.
Read: Mga kababayan ni Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios sa Nicaragua, nabiktima ng fake news
Bahagi ng kanyang panulat: “Since the end of 2018, there had not been a display of national flags like this. The reason is simple: waving it publicly can land you arrested and spent months or years behind bars.
“A gesture as seemingly innocuous as shouting 'Viva Nicaragua Libre' in streets is a crime.
"But it seemed that they all kept the proof of the charge in their cupboards and drawers, and as soon as the opportunity arose to show it again, the colors blue and white returned to occupy the towns and cities of half of the country."