Spain has crowned its first transgender Miss Universe contestant who will go
on to represent her country at the prestigious international pageant later
this year.
Angela Ponce, a 26-year-old trans woman from Seville who previously
represented Cadiz in the 2015 Miss World Spain contest, has become her
country's first transgender representative.
In 2015, she lost to Miss Barcelona Mireia Lalaguna who went on to win Miss
World. Despite Angela's participation, at the time the Miss World
Organization did not accept transgender contestants.
In response, Angela said: "At least I have the regional (Cadiz) crown on my
head."
In 2012, rival contest Miss Universe announced that it would allow
transgender beauty queens after Canadian model Jenna Talackova successfully
sued Miss Universe Canada organisers for initially disqualifying her for
being transgender.
At the pageant in May 2012, Jenna made it into the Top 12 but failed to
reach the Top five. However, she was one of four contestants awarded the
title of Miss Congeniality.
Angela, who is 181 centimetres (5 feet, 9 inches) tall, was crowned Miss
Universe Spain at the same time as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender (LGBT) community's celebration of Pride Month.
The beauty queen, who says she first identified as a woman at the age of
three, will represent Spain at Miss Universe 2018 at a date yet to be set.
One anonymous netizen said: "These people deserve to be on the international
stage and show the world what LGBT stands for."
Social media user 'XxxX' said: "Trans 'women' have a height advantage as men
naturally grow taller. She is 1.81cm. Most women do not grow that tall.
Height is an advantage in Miss Universe. I am against this on all levels.
Shame on Spain for taking away the very few opportunities that women get and
giving it to a man in drag."
