Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios (Instagram/@sheynnispalacios_of)
- Reigning Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios is on an African tour, visiting Kenya and Zimbabwe.
- In Kenya, she crowned Miss Universe Kenya and visited the Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
- In Zimbabwe, she promoted tourism, opened a borehole in Epworth, and experienced the vibrant local culture.
Reigning Miss Universe, Sheynnis Palacios embarked on an African tour, visiting the vibrant landscapes and rich cultures of Kenya and Zimbabwe.
The beauty queen’s journey started in Kenya, where she spent four memorable days from 15 – 19 August. During her stay, she graced the Miss Universe Kenya pageant, crowning this year’s winner, Irene Mukii.
Beyond the glitz and glamour, Palacios visited the renowned Giraffe Centre. Established by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W. Kenya), this non-profit organisation aims to educate Kenyan school children and youth about their country’s wildlife and environment. It also offers local and international visitors a unique opportunity to interact closely with the world’s tallest species, the giraffe.
At the centre, Palacios was delighted to meet Eddie the Giraffe, an experience described as ‘thrilling.’
Another one of her stops was the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), which operates the most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world, according to its website.
Palacios adopted a baby elephant and named him Daimon, “a name that is very special to me,” she said.
On Wednesday, Palacios embarked on the second leg of her tour, visiting Zimbabwe to help promote tourism.
She joined Miss Universe Zimbabwe at the opening of a borehole in the Epworth community.
“Today was a success in Epworth with the installation of boreholes unveiled by @sheynnispalacios_of and MUZ Chairperson @minie_baloyi alongside current MUZ @sakky_zie. This serves as a positive impact on the community and another step towards clean and accessible water for all Zimbabweans,” reads a caption on Instagram.
On Thursday, Palacios took a cruise on the Zambezi River and visited Victoria Falls.
“Our Miss Universe, @sheynnispalacios_of, immersed herself in the vibrant culture of Zimbabwe. She embraced the rich traditions through an enchanting dance experience, deepening her connection to the heart and soul of Zimbabwean heritage. Thank you, @missuniversezw, for sharing your beautiful traditions and making this moment truly special,” reads a caption on Instagram.
Reflecting on the experience, Palacios wrote alongside a carousel of photos: “Grateful for experiencing such wonderful moments like this.”
Palacios, who hails from Nicaragua, was crowned Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador last year.
Palacios will crown her successor at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico on 16 November.