Director of Miss Nicaragua Pageant Resigns Amid Accusations of Treason

The director of the Miss Nicaragua beauty pageant, Karen Celebertti, has resigned after being charged with treason. Celebertti has been accused of manipulating the contest in favor of anti-government beauty queens. These allegations surfaced shortly after Sheynnis Palacios, who won the Miss Nicaragua title, was crowned Miss Universe. Photos of Palacios participating in a 2018 anti-government protest angered the government, but Nicaraguans celebrated her victory at Miss Universe as a significant achievement for the country. The Nicaraguan flag, which symbolizes the anti-government protests, was prominently displayed during the celebrations. Initially, President Daniel Ortega's government expressed pride in Palacios's win but quickly turned against her and all those connected to the pageant once the viral photos emerged. Palacios and Celebertti's attempts to return to Nicaragua were unsuccessful, and opposition media reported that they had been denied entry, forcing them to travel to Mexico. Additionally, Celebertti's husband and son, who co-own the local Miss Universe franchise, were allegedly arrested by the police. The three individuals have been charged with treason for their involvement in the 2018 protests. Police claimed that they were part of a coup attempt, accusing them of planning to use their pageant platforms for political purposes with the support of foreign agents. It is worth mentioning that no trial has taken place yet, despite the police statement suggesting otherwise. Celebertti denied any political involvement in the pageants she organized. Miguel Mendoza, a Nicaraguan journalist deported to the United States earlier this year, expressed hope that Celebertti's resignation would lead to the release of her husband and son. Anti-government protests have been illegal in Nicaragua since 2018.