A transgender woman was able snatch her country’s national beauty pageant title making her qualified to compete in the upcoming Miss Universe 2018 pageant.
25-year-old Angela Ponce bagged the Miss Spain 2018 crown on June 29, making her the first trans woman to win the title.
Ponce bested 21 other contestants during the pageant which was held in August Auditorium, Palau Firal i de Congressos in Tarragona.
Ponce said that she was only 11 years old when she discovered her transsexualilty, and she was able to complete her transition in 2014.
The Spanish beauty queen has also previously competed in Miss World Spain in 2015, but she failed to get the crown.
While Ponce is the first transgender Miss Spain, this isn’t the first time a transgender woman won a national beauty pageant title.
Then 23-year-old Jenna Talackova, a transwoman, was crowned Miss Universe Canada in 2012. She was, however, dethroned and her title was given to Sahar Biniaz.
In 2012, when the Miss Universe Organization was still under the management of current US President Donald Trump, pageant organizers lifted the ban on transgender contestants.
Transwomen are now allowed to join in one of the world’s most prestigious beauty pageant given that they were able to win the national title in their home country.
Because of her victory, Ponce will be representing Spain in the upcoming Miss Universe 2018 pageant which is expected to happen in November.
One of her competitors will be Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray.
Netizens react
While the Miss Universe pageant has already allowed trans women to compete, Ponce’s victory still received mixed reactions from netizens.
Many netizens on Twitter expressed their support to the newly-crowned beauty queen.
Miss Universe Spain is the first transgender to enter Miss Universe and I think that is the best way to end pride month #Pride
— Carissa (@mspotatopenguin) June 30, 2018
So Spain just crowned a transgender woman to be their representative in Miss Universe
Gay Filipino pageant watchers: “Sana alam ng LGBT ang lugar nila, dapat mag give way sa natural na babae”
On Pride Month?? On Pride March Day, really?
— Adae (@adrianpanads) June 30, 2018
Congrats Angela Ponce on becoming the first Transexual Woman on winning Miss Universe Spain…I can’t wait to see her compete at Miss Universe! #pride pic.twitter.com/cjdC18372I
— Alexis Mateo (@AlexisMateo79) June 30, 2018
Transwoman Angela Ponce won Miss Universe Spain 2018! Wow, this is another step towards wide acceptance of LGBTQA Community.
— Dan (@dmd_cuesta02) July 1, 2018
In the comments section of the entertainment blogger Fashion Pulis, many netizens said that international pageants such as Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, etc. are only intended for biological women.
