By Leroy A Brown

Sheynnis Palacios, Miss Universe Nicaragua, won the 2023 Miss Universe pageant.

Sheynnis Palacios is the first Nicaraguan woman to win in the Miss Universe Pageant.

Sheynnis Palacios has previously represented Nicaragua in the 2017 Teen Miss Universe pageant and the 2021 Miss World competition.

Anntonia Porsild, Miss Universe Thailand, was 1^st Runner-Up in the Miss Universe 2023 pageant. She was also the first Thai woman to win Miss Supranational in 2019.

Moraya Wilson, Miss Universe Australia, was 2^nd Runner-Up in the Miss Universe 2023 competition.

Erica Robin, Miss Universe Pakistan 2023, was the first woman to represent Pakistan at Miss Universe 2023. She made a lasting impression by wearing a burkini during the Miss Universe 2023 pageant swimsuit competition.

The Miss Universe 2023 final was hosted for the first time by an all-female team comprised of Maria Menounos and Jeannie Mai Jenkins, who are television personalities, and Olivia Culpo, Miss USA 2012 and Miss Universe 2012.

John Legend performed at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant.

Some of the judges at the Miss Universe 2023 competition were the first hijab-wearing model – Halima Aden, Carson Kressley, who appeared in the Bravo movie series ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,’ Avani Gregg, TikTok influencer and appears on the web series ‘Chicken Girls,’ Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), the first black woman to win Miss Universe in 1977, and Iris Mittenaere of France, Miss Universe 2016.

The 72^nd annual Miss Universe 2023 pageant was held at the Jose Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador, on November 18, 2023.

Miss Universe 2023 and Transgender Women (Trans Women)

Portuguese model -Marina Machete, Miss Universe Portugal 2023, and Dutch model – Rikkie Kolle, Miss Netherlands 2023, are the first transgender women to represent their respective countries in the Miss Universe 2023 pageant.

Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, the “Thai Trans Woman Billionaire”

Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip (also known as Anne JKN) owns the Miss Universe pageant.

Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip is a transgender woman who bought the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) from IMG Worldwide for about US$20 million.

Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip became the first transgender woman to own the Miss Universe pageant.

IMG Worldwide is a global sports and culture company that had acquired MUO from former U.S. president Donald Trump.

Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip is the 43-year-old chief executive officer (CEO) of JKN Global Media and has over six million (>6 million) followers on Instagram (annejkn.official).

Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip appeared in Thailand’s version of ‘Project Runway’ and ‘Shark Tank’ and started the Life Inspired for Transsexual Foundation (LIFT) to advocate for transgender rights.

Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip is the richest transgender woman in Thailand and one of the richest in the world, with a net worth of approximately 6.37 billion baht (~ US$182,252,070).

JKN Global Group PCL

The JKN Global Group Public Company Limited (PCL) is a media conglomerate in Thailand that offers content management and distribution. It has expanded into having a service station, a 7-Eleven, an Amazon café, selling health products and supplements, and has acquired factories and digital news outlets.

JKN is listed on the Market for Alternative Investment (MAA).

The Market for Alternative Investment (MAA) is a stock exchange established by the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) in 1998 under the Securities Exchange of Thailand Act.

The Market for Alternative Investment (MAA) is a stock exchange for small and medium-sized enterprises.

JKN Global Group PCL (JKN: T.B.) 's delayed stock price as of November 19, 2023, was THB 0.29 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Investment Opportunities in Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a country that is regarded as having a young and talented workforce and is developing infrastructure that together are all geared to growing the Nicaraguan economy.

The primary industries in Nicaragua are:

Agribusiness

Agribusiness in Nicaragua includes economic activities such as food processing, agricultural plantations, biofuels, dairy, and meat production, to highlight a few.

Light Manufacturing

Light manufacturing in Nicaragua includes economic sectors such as textiles and apparel, auto parts, medical equipment, etc.

Outsourcing Services

Outsourcing services in Nicaragua include commercial sectors such as business process outsourcing (BPO), information technology outsourcing (ITO), shared services centers (SSC), and so on.

You may learn more about investing in Nicaragua at PRONicaragua.

PRONicaragua was set up in 2002 as the official investment promotional agency of the government of Nicaragua.

You may have various questions about investing in Nicaragua, so Stocks and Rich (https://stocksandrich.ca/) will help to answer them as follows:

Is Nicaragua a good country to invest in?

Some find investing in Nicaragua a good choice, while others do not.

Some of the reasons many individuals and corporations invest in Nicaragua are:

1

The low labor cost compared to other regions, such as North America and Europe, makes Nicaragua attractive.

2

Many investors establish Airbnb rentals, villas, bed and breakfasts, hotels, ecotours, ecovillages, etc., to take advantage of the tourism opportunities.

3

The sale price for houses and other real estate in Nicaragua is low compared to North America and Europe. As such, many have retired to Nicaragua or have second homes there.

According to a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, 2022 Investment Climate Statements: Nicaragua report (https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-investment-climate-statements/nicaragua/), “investors should be extremely cautious about investing in Nicaragua.”

How do people make money in Nicaragua?

The Nicaraguan economy functions on three (3) key industries – agribusiness, light manufacturing, and services.

Also, many in Nicaragua receive money from remittances and exports.

The expanding fisheries, construction, and mining economic sectors have also provided financial avenues for many to have salaries, wages, and profits.

Is it safe to buy property in Nicaragua?

Just like many jurisdictions, the necessary research is required. Also, there can be challenges worldwide, such as buying a house, protecting your property, the ownership transfer process, etc.

Thus far, many have found it safe to buy real estate and other properties in Nicaragua, and as its economic and social environment improves, it is projected to get better.

According to the World Bank (https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/nicaragua/overview#1) overview of Nicaragua, the economic and social environment is projected to advance.

What are the risks of doing business in Nicaragua?

As in any country, you need to research and decide if the investment is worth it.

Thus far, many are profiting from doing business in Nicaragua, whether in the tourism, manufacturing, services, agricultural, or other economic sectors.

Of course, some are having challenges and may not be profiting.

As of the November 20, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua (https://ni.usembassy.gov/business/)

issued “cautions about doing business in Nicaragua.”

The U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs issued a Nicaragua  Travel Advisory on July 17, 2023 (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/nicaragua-travel-advisory.html)

to “reconsider travel to Nicaragua.”

As usual, it is always good to consult with a professional and do your research.

Leroy A. Brown is an author, speaker, and consultant who helps individuals increase, maintain, and grow their money while being healthy and mindful. You may follow Leroy A Brown on LinkedIn at https://ca.linkedin.com/in/leroy-a-brown-268ba850.