Miss Universe franchise owner in Nicaragua to retire after government accusations

The owner of the Miss Universe franchise in Nicaragua is retiring from her role with the beauty contest, she announced on social media, days after she was charged alongside her husband and son with conspiracy against the government.

Last month, Karen Celebertti oversaw the Central American nation's first victory in the pageant, when Nicaraguan Sheynnis Palacios was crowned Miss Universe at the event in El Salvador.

Palacios' coronation caused a political stir after videos were leaked of the beauty queen participating in anti-government marches in 2018 when she was 17, prompting the government to accuse the opposition of using her victory to plan new protests.

Celebertti - whose location could not be immediately established - has been banned from entering Nicaragua over accusations of conspiracy dating back to 2018. Authorities said she and her son and husband played a role in organizing the anti-government protests.

"The time has come for me to retire," said Celebertti on Monday evening in an Instagram post, ending a 23-year stint as the country's beauty contest head.

The businesswoman did not explain the reasons for her retirement but defended her family.

"My husband and I come from hardworking, honest families... we have raised our children to be good, educated and responsible human beings."

She also defended the beauty queen's victory, saying that "a crown should be respected as an achievement of all." Palacios has not returned to Nicaragua since her victory.

Nicaraguan police said earlier this month that the local Miss Universe organization had been used to "turn pageants into political traps and political ambushes, financed by foreign agents."

The government banned protests following a violent crackdown on widespread anti-government demonstrations in 2018 that left more than 320 dead, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.