Spain’s Miss Universe Contestant Becomes First Transgender Participant

Angela Ponce, better known as the Miss Universe Spain contestant, became the first ever transgender contestant in the competition.

Twenty-seven-year-old Ponce did not win the competition, but she was not upset with the outcome. The model stated it was an “honor and pride” to make history concerning the pageant.

“This is for you, for those who have no visibility, no voice, because we all deserve a world of respect, inclusion, and freedom,” Ponce said on Instagram.

This is a major change for the Miss Universe industry.

In 2012, a transgender woman named Jenna Talackova was disqualified from the Miss Canada competition because she was not naturally born a woman.

“In today’s society, I am not surprised Miss Universe accepted her as a contestant. I do not think the other contestants should be upset if they are confident in themselves. Being upset about it would mean they are not confident in their own performance. If Miss Spain was the best candidate for the title, then of course she deserves to win. The backlash Miss Spain and the Miss Universe tradition is receiving is not deserved. I think that, if we are more accepting of the fact that, as people, we are more alike than different, there would be a lot less conflict in the world,” Fleetwood Area High School English Teacher Mr. Marc Walter stated.

“Yes, I am surprised that the Miss Universe competition let her compete. Yes, I do believe the other contestants should be upset. They have been cheated out of a position that was rightfully a female’s that was taken away by a male. I do not believe Miss Spain would have deserved to win because he is a man. I think the backlash they are getting is deserved because they should not allow a man to compete in a women’s competition,” Fleetwood Area High School Junior Nathan Nahrgang stated.