These were the answers to the final round of questions for the three finalists of Miss Universe 2023 (and why Miss Nicaragua was applauded)

The final round of questions was condensed into one round during the Miss Universe 2023 gala in El Salvador. If you could live in another woman’s shoes for a year, who would you choose?

Ecuadorian presenter Danilo Carrera explained that the candidates would have headphones to block out the sound, and thus none of them would know the question or be able to hear the others’ answers.

Miss Thailand, Anntonia Porsild, said: “I would choose (Pakistani activist) Malala Yousafzai, because I know what he had to go through to be where he is today. Help women, be the change, lead by example. “If I could choose anyone, it would be her.”

Miss Australia, Moraya Wilson, said this: “I would choose my mother, she is a very strong woman, she taught me to work, to be brave, and I will always be grateful for that lesson.”

But Miss Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios, thrilled the Salvadoran audience by responding in Spanish: “I would choose (English philosopher and writer) Mary Wollstonecraft, because she was the first woman to break through in the field of women’s rights. I would do everything possible to ensure that pay gaps provide opportunities for many women to work in any field where they can perform, because there are no boundaries for women. That was in the 18th century. It is 2023 and we are making history.”