With the colors of pride beginning to spread all across the world for Pride Month, let us celebrate the iconic beauty queens and organizations that have broken down borders and stereotypes and paved and continue to pave the way for many in the LGBTQ+ community in the pageant world.
Miss Universe Spain 2018 Angela Ponce
Angela was the first transgender woman to compete on the Miss Universe stage. Angela completed her transition in the year 2014 and after that, she competed in Miss World Spain 2015 where she represented Cadiz. Unfortunately, she remained unplaced during the finale, but that did not stop her from competing in other beauty pageants. Angela’s wish is not to impose her identity on other people but just wants other Trans women to know that they can be whoever they wish to be.
Miss Nevada USA 2021 Kataluna Enriquez
Kataluna became the first transwoman to compete in both Miss Nevada USA as well as Miss USA pageant in 2021. The diva shared that while growing up, she was not allowed to be herself or be in spaces where she was not welcome, but today, she is proud of who she is. She started working as a health care administrator at LGBTQ Health Care and is using her platform to be a point of representation, to discuss healthcare access for the trans community, and to speak out about the barriers she has faced due to her identity.
Solange Dekker – Finalist Miss Nederlands 2022
Netherlands first trans pageant queen, Solange Dekker has made history as she entered the Top 10 of Miss Nederland 2022. She believes that beauty contests are all about connection and change, not about competition and being better than the rest. “You are committed to a better world, a more inclusive world. And that is exactly what I am committed to. Inclusivity, power, acceptance,” she shared.
Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez
Beatrice created history by becoming the first ever openly gay contestant from Philippines to represent the country at Miss Universe. “I didn’t want my sexuality to be the only identity that I have joining the Miss Universe competition. There’s so much more about me that I wanted to share with other people, and I wanted to normalize the idea of LGBTQIA+ members joining beauty pageants because I may be the first to openly talk about it, but I am not the first one who joined,” she shared previously.
Miss Universe Myanmar 2019 Swe Zin Htet
Miss Universe Myanmar 2019 Swe Zin Htet became the first openly gay Miss Universe contestant. The diva felt it personally challenging but also having a greater voice and the best position to promote this cause. "I have that platform that, if I say that I'm a lesbian, it will have a big impact on the LGBTQ community back in Burma (Myanmar). The difficult thing is that in Burma, LGBTQ people are not accepted they are looked down on by other people and are being discriminated against," she said earlier.
Jenna Talackova – Former Miss Universe Canada delegate
Jenna Talackova is a Canadian model and television personality, who gained media attention in 2012 when she successfully waged a legal battle to be allowed to compete in the Miss Universe Canada after being initially disqualified for being transgender. Talackova was named co-grand marshal of the 2012 Vancouver Pride Parade in recognition of her fight to be in the Miss Universe pageant.
Lehlogonolo Machaba – Top 30 Miss South Africa 2022
Making history for trans-community in South Africa, Lehlogonolo Machaba has become the first transwoman applicant to enter Miss South Africa 2021. However, since she could not make it to the Top 10, the diva has returned for the national title this year. She describes herself as a trans woman who enjoys being her truest self and is passionate about advocating for the true definition of authenticity. She will be using the platform to represent the queer community and make people understand they are also human and deserve to live.
Miss International Queen Beauty pageant
Established in 2004 by Tiffany’s Show Pattaya Co., Ltd., Miss International Queen is the world’s largest & most prestigious beauty pageant for international transgender & transvestites. Miss International Queen always advocates for people to be proud of who they are as they stand with World Equality.