Who is Sheynnis Palacios, the new Miss Universe? 1:07

(CNN) -- This Saturday, the Miss Universe 2023 gala was held, in which Miss Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios, was crowned for the first time in history.

• Sheynnis Palacios, from a humble family in Nicaragua to the glory of Miss Universe

Among the 20 selected were Marina Machete who made history for being the first trans woman to win the title of Miss Portugal, and Miss Nepal, Jane Dipika Garrett, the first plus-size woman to participate in the Miss Universe pageant.

Also qualifying in the top 5, for the first time in history, was a woman who is a mother: Camila Avella, representative of Colombia. Before this edition, married, divorced, childly or pregnant women were not allowed to participate in the contest.

One of the most memorable moments of the pageant was when, in the Preliminary Competition, the contestants paraded down the runway in evening gowns. Here are some of the highlights.

Miss Angola, Ana Bárbara Da Silva Coimbra. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Argentina, Yamile Dajud. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Bolivia, Estefany Rivero. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Brazil, Maria Brechane. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Cameroon, Princess Issie. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Canada, Madison Kvaltin. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Chile, Celeste Viel. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Colombia, Camila Avella. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss USA, Noelia Voigt. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Spain, Athenea Paulinha Pérez. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss El Salvador, Isabella García-Manzo. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss France, Diane Leyre. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss India, Shweta Sharda. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Ireland, Aishah Akorede. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Jamaica, Lauren Levy. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Mexico, Melissa Flores. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Nepal, Jane Dipika Garrett. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Pakistan, Erica Robin. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Portugal, Marina Machete. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Peru, Camila Escribens. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Dominican Republic, Mariana Downing. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Miss Venezuela, Diana Silva. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

The Miss Universe 2023 pageant also marked the final year of Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart. After 23 years in office, Shugart announced he would be stepping down, a decision he said had been "months in the making, and not in response to recent events." Last week, the show's owners, JKN Global Group, filed for bankruptcy (or "business rehabilitation") in Thailand, though they said the move would not affect this year's pageant or the organization in the future.

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