Leilani Reyes

Miss Universe El Salvador placing top 10 in Miss Universe beauty pageant!

This year, the 72nd Miss Universe was hosted in my mother country, El Salvador.

I looked forward to watching Miss Universe all the time since I was eight years old. Being Miss

Universe is one of my lifelong dreams, but it is so unrealistic and almost impossible. I support all

women, in the end whoever won, I always felt was very beautiful and deserving of the title.

Every year I’d sit there and root for El Salvador. However, because El Salvador is such a small

country and Miss Universe is global, El Salvador would never get selected at all, not even for the

top 20 category, which is the first set of finalists. This year was different because of the

advantage that Miss El Salvador had with Miss Universe being hosted at her house. Miss

Universe El Salvador was a fantastic contestant. Not only did she make it into the top 20, but she

made it into the top 10! I had never been so full of emotion before; I sobbed and screamed while

the television kept playing the live competition. I've always watched Miss Universe with hope,

and it paid off today. I felt so inspired and moved; we really never know when something so

grand will occur, which is why it is so important always to have goals and dreams. One day, I, a

5 '3 Salvadoran girl, will run for Miss El Salvador and place high in Miss Universe after all

dreams are free.