MISS(MISTER) UNIVERSE: Transgender Pageants Will Fight to Be the Most Beautiful Woman in the World
The world is changing and with it - beauty standards. Believe me, during the time when your grandparents were young, and probably you too, it was unthinkable for biologically born men to compete in a beauty contest.
But what happened recently in Portugal and the Netherlands has opened a new window - or rather breaks stereotypes and gives new meaning to the definition of beauty.
At this year’s edition of Miss Universe, we will witness the participation of at least two transgender pageants - Marina and Ricky Valerie. To a large extent, it can be assumed that this is also because of Gen Z, which in its majority supports LGBT rights and gender equality.
But who are these girls who managed to break the taboos and convince everyone that although they were born men, they have the right to be women.
Marina Machete last week became the first trans woman to win the title of Miss Portugal.
The 28-year-old brunette is a flight attendant and there is no point to deceive ourselves - we would never doubt her femininity. Miss Marina, born in Lisbon, is 1.65m tall and she said that she had wanted to enter the pageant for many years but was not "eligible to compete with women".
She will not be the only one at Miss Universe. At the pageant, she will be together with another transgender beauty - 22-year-old Ricky Valerie Kole, winner of the title of Miss Netherlands. "I know better than anyone what it is like to feel alone and not surrounded by positive thoughts. When I was young and came out as transgender, it was not easy for my family and I suffered, too. Now I want to be a voice and role model for young women and non-conventional people. Through my dedication and strength, I hope to bring about change in society," says the Dutch model.
Marina and Ricky's path into the big pageant has already been paved by Angela Ponce from Spain who made history in 2018 by becoming the first transgender contestant for the Miss Universe crown.
The owner of the Miss Universe brand - the Thai woman Ann Jakapong Jakrajutatip is also transgender. Beauty pageants opened up to transgender contestants back in 2012, when the pageant was still owned by former US President Donald Trump, which makes it extremely attractive to young people who are looking for career success and meaning in their work.
