Sky-High Heels Take Center Stage at Miss Universe 2023 As Thailand, Australia, and Nicaragua Strut the Runway, Footwear Sponsor Jojo Bragais Steals the Show
The grand finale of the Miss Universe 2023 pageant was a dazzling showcase of both high fashion and sky-scraper heels. Thailand’s Anntonia Porsild, Australia’s Moraya Wilson, and Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios each modeled show-stopping evening gowns designed to catch the light. Yet despite the glittering embellishments adorning each look, all eyes were drawn downwards to the contestants’ larger-than-life footwear.
Sponsored by designer Jojo Bragais, each model donned a pair of towering platform sandals to match their elaborate gowns. The lofty silhouettes served both form and function, adding inches of height while providing stability atop perilously thin stilettos. Bold straps and exaggerated platforms lent the shoes an avant garde, almost architectural allure that commanded as much attention as the jewel-encrusted dresses themselves.
Porsild took to the catwalk in shimmering tan platforms, their crisscrossing leather straps securing her feet as she strutted with ease. Meanwhile, Wilson’s strappy metallic sandals matched the champagne and silver crystals of her mermaid gown. However, it was Palacios who ultimately took home the crown in a pair of dazzling silver heels nearly five inches high. Despite their staggering height, she moved with grace and confidence as the shoes’ thick platforms kept her steady amidst the spotlight.
From Thailand’s glitzy straps to Australia’s modern finishes, each model’s footwear spoke not only to Jojo Bragais’ innovative designs, but also to the contestants’ own unique styles and personalities. Standing tall atop these statement shoes, their beauty radiated both inside and out—with a little help from Bragais’ elevated craftsmanship. And as Palacios was crowned the 2023 Miss Universe before an audience of millions, her otherworldly platforms became an integral part of the evening’s magical allure.
