The director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant, Karen Celebertti, has resigned a week after facing charges from the country’s national police. She, along with her husband and son, was accused of conspiracy and treason, allegedly involved in a plot to overthrow the government. Celebertti, who has been at the helm of Nicaragua’s Miss Universe franchise for over two decades, announced her resignation through her Instagram account on Tuesday.
These developments unfolded shortly after Sheynnis Palacios achieved a historic victory by winning Miss Universe 2023. Representing Nicaragua, Palacios became the first from the Central American country to secure the prestigious title. The events surrounding Celebertti’s resignation add a controversial layer to the aftermath of Palacios’ groundbreaking win at the international pageant hosted in El Salvador last month. the Miss Nicaragua
“For 23 years I have worked with zeal and effort to exalt the name of my homeland Nicaragua… I have done it with transparency, with a lot of love and believing in each and every one of the Nicas because talent and beauty abound in every corner of the country,” Celebertti wrote in a post on Instagram, without directly addressing the accusations against her.
“The time has come for my retirement,” she added. “I know that there will always be more opportunities for us: My husband and I come from hard-working, honest families that have always distinguished themselves by their support of the community… I have left an entire life at the service of my country, in the way that I can: with responsibility and professionalism.”