Transgender women

 Is it their season to shine?

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

After Miss Universe Spain 2018 Angela Ponce made a splash as the first transgender woman to have competed in the Miss Universe pageant, the Miss Universe Vietnam organization follows through with its acceptance of Do Tay Ha, a Business Administration student at the Ho Chi Minh University, as the national pageant's first transgender applicant. 

On the occasion of the International Transgender Day of Visibility, and Pride Month, Do Tay Ha has been announced as the first transgender applicant for Miss Universe Vietnam 2021. From Tay Ninh, she currently resides in Ho Chi Minh. Do is a famous model in the transgender community.

The Miss Universe South Africa organization is, likewise, opening its pageant to transgender women.

On the homefront, the Miss Universe Philippines organization has also given its assent. "As long as they have legal documents to prove they are now female and they already have underwent gender reassignment surgery," intoned national director Shamcey Supsup-Lee.

The inclusion of transgender women in the Miss Universe pageant is a tricky issue for many women. Among them is Miss Universe Colombia 2018 Valeria Morales, who refused to be Miss Universe Spain 2018 Angela Ponce's roommate  because she said 'Angela was still a man.'

While both delegates did not advance to the semi-final round, Angela was, however, given the spotlight, during the competition, in recognition of her being the first transgender candidate in the history of the Miss Universe pageant.

It was a victory, of sorts, both for Angela and Thailand, who has a sizeable community of transgenders who are now living the 'life of a woman.'

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, who competed with Angela Ponce in Bangkok, said that "personally, I have no problem with it." This was her stand when the question was brought up during a "Bottomline" show interview with Boy Abunda, prior to her departure for Thailand.

For her part, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach said that "well, I always knew that transgenders are allowed to join and win Miss Universe," while Miss Universe 2013 runner-up Ariella Arida stated that "it is a milestone for Miss Universe. I'm fine with it."

On the other hand, Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 Teresita Ssen Marquez opined that "sana ibigay nalang sa natural-born woman," while Miss International Queen 2012 Kevin Balot concurred by saying that "transgender women joining the Miss Universe is not equality anymore. We have the Miss International Queen pageant, which is the most prestigious transgender beauty pageant. Hindi na sya equality eh, parang asking too much na. We have to respect each other."

Bb. Pilipinas-International 2014 Bianca Guidotti pointed out that "a pageant should not validate you nor your gender."

Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler said that "there is more to being aa woman. We were born female. We experience menstrual cycle for decades. We struggled to be rerecognized in a mad men era, too. We nurture life. That is what Miss Universe is about. 

"You don't buy womanhood. Transgenders should have their own pageant, I think, and maybe they can realize that this pageant, Miss Universe, or the other pageants, were made for women," explained the Venezuelan beauty queen.

And with Alex Mariah Peter making history as the first transgender winning Germany's recent Next Top Model contest, the discourses and debate towards this issue will go a long, long way still.

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Images from Facebook