With its glossy lips and sparkly gowns, Miss Universe has appealed to girls and women alike for over 70 years. Throughout the years, beauty competitions like Miss Universe increased their sense of inclusivity and challenged what it means to be a woman.
In 2018, Miss Spain crowned Spanish model Angela Ponce and sent her to compete in Miss Universe. Angela Ponce became the first trans woman to compete in Miss Universe. Ponce’s participation in the pageant occurred just six years after the Miss Universe Organization updated their rulebook to allow transgender women to compete for the crown.
Despite this huge win, other countries continue to restrict transgender women from competing in their biggest pageants.
According to CNN, the Miss Italy pageant continues to defend their ban on allowing transgender women to compete, stating that every contestant must “be a woman at birth.” These statements sparked controversy, leading more than 100 trans men to enroll in Miss Italy to protest the organization’s transphobic comments.
Unfortunately, Miss Italy’s transphobic ban reflects how much of the world views transgender people. According to LGBTQ Nation, 14 countries have banned being transgender altogether. Transgender people aren’t just underrepresented in our pageants — society treats them like they’re invisible in everyday life too.
While we still have a long way to go in terms oftransgender rights, many places now show more accepting attitudes towards transgender people. For example, the. UCLA reports that 56 countries now see an increase of acceptance towards transgender individuals. With transgender people more visible than ever in some parts of the world — and in some of the world’s biggest pageants — acceptance will likely continue to increase.
The pageants that now include transgender women contestants have the opportunity to highlight diverse voices — and transgender contestants certainly notice. This year, Miss Universe will feature two transgender women competing for the crown.
Marina Machete and Rikki Kolle are this year’s two transgender Miss Universe contestants. Machete is the first transgender woman to win Miss Portugal, while Kolle is the first transgender woman to win Miss Netherlands. Both of these wonderful women will compete for Miss Universe, in which 90 total women will compete for the crown.
With more women included in Miss Universe, this is sure to make for an exciting (and progressive) competition. Who are you rooting for this season? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image via Flickr Philip Nelson
