“Miss Nicaragua pageant director accused of rigging contests, sparking political turmoil.”
Nicaraguan authorities seek to apprehend the director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant, Karen Celebertti, accusing her of manipulating contests to favor anti-government beauty queens, aiming to destabilize the government. This unusual turn of events mirrors a plotline from a classic James Bond movie, involving coup allegations, beauty queens, and foreign intervention.
The turmoil began after Sheynnis Palacios, Miss Nicaragua, won the Miss Universe pageant on November 18. Initially seen as a victory for Nicaragua, celebrating pride, the mood quickly shifted when it emerged that Palacios had participated in anti-government protests in 2018, a movement harshly suppressed by President Ortega’s administration, resulting in numerous casualties.
The National Police alleges that Celebertti actively engaged in activities supporting the failed coup during the 2018 protests. Despite reports of her being denied entry into the country recently, local media stated that her family members had been detained.
Accused of treason, Celebertti supposedly collaborated with traitors, transforming beauty contests into political traps backed by foreign agents. The public celebration following Palacios’ win aggravated the government, especially as citizens displayed the national flag associated with opposition rather than the ruling Sandinista banner.
Vice President Rosario Murillo condemned social media celebrating Palacios’ victory, labeling it as a coup attempt. Ortega’s government intensified control, closing universities, suppressing dissent, and restricting thousands of civic organizations, forcing many into exile.
Palacios, silent amid the controversy, previously spoke about her struggles with anxiety and her aspiration to address gender pay gaps. However, her deleted Facebook posts revealed her initial fear of participating in protests, where witnesses recalled seeing her among the demonstrators.
