Posted on 12/16/2018 9:48:41 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Miss Spain's Angela Ponce is blazing a trail as the first transgender contestant in Miss Universe's 66-year history.
Carrying a bold message of inclusion, transgender rights and a sharp rebuke to US President Donald Trump, Miss Spain's Angela Ponce is blazing a trail as the first transgender contestant in Miss Universe's 66-year history.
The willowy beauty is making history since the pageant reversed a longstanding policy in 2012 that participants must be "naturally born" women.
Explaining her broad appeal the plain-speaking 27-year-old says "who hasn't suffered from prejudice? Who hasn't had to deal with bullying?"
Outside the walls of Miss Universe -- whose finals will be held early Monday in Thailand's capital Bangkok -- the transgender community continues to be marginalised and misunderstood, with high rates of suicide.
A leaked White House report said President Trump's administration is considering pushing changes to the law to define gender by biological traits at birth, while trying to block transgender people from military service.
Ponce is defiant about how to respond to Trump, a former owner of Miss Universe, and others who would try to box her in by physical traits.
"I always say: having a vagina didn't transform me into a woman. I am a woman, already before birth, because my identity is here," she told AFP, gesturing to her head.
She also took issue with the classification of trans people by large sections of society based on prejudice and narrow assessments of gender.
"Outsiders say what I can and cannot do, what I am and what I am not,'" Ponce said, noting, "No, I'm sorry. To be a woman is your identity. It doesn't matter if you are white, black, if you have a vagina... if you have a penis."
Ponce, who works with a foundation in Spain helping children struggling with stigma linked to being trans, is aware of the visibility she brings to the Miss Universe platform.
Her performance has so far drawn praise, from her portrayal of a flamenco dancer during the national costume portion of the competition to her strut down the runway in a shimmery mermaid-like gown in the evening dress category.
"You can empower yourself like I have and turn something negative into your biggest strength," she said, adding, "Children are born without prejudices and I think that if we talk to them about diversity from a young age... we can create a new generation of human beings who are raised a lot better, more tolerant and respectful."
This year's event, which critics say is a throwback to stereotypes of the the pre #MeToo era, has largely preached a message of inclusivity. It boasts an all-women panel of judges made up of business leaders and former Miss Universe titleholders.
But gaffes still abound -- Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers got in hot water for appearing to mock the contestants from Vietnam and Cambodia on social media for not being able to speak English. She has since posted an apology on instagram, saying she did not "intend to hurt" her fellow competitors.
Monday's event will see last year's winner Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa crown her successor among 94 countries in a live televised event hosted by American comic turned TV host Steve Harvey and supermodel Ashley Graham.
They are letting a surgically altered nut case into the competition unbelievable.
Breaking news: Angela aint no Miss.
Male=female.
you cannot change the simple biology that he is a male......
They always still 'show' masculine features regardless as well...
“A deliberately mutilated dude”
Exactly, in the most sordid fashion imaginable. Check out this article by a “transgender” describing his surgery to “create” a vagina:
“Next Thursday, I will get a vagina. The procedure will last around six hours, and I will be in recovery for at least three months. Until the day I die, my body will regard the vagina as a wound; as a result, it will require regular, painful attention to maintain. This is what I want, but there is no guarantee it will make me happier. In fact, I dont expect it to. That shouldnt disqualify me from getting it.”
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/meaning-of-andrea-long-chu-fake-vagina/
Loppadektomy. No thanks
“Miss Universe 2018: All Eyes on Spain’s Transgender Contestant Ahead of Announcement”
If he wins,it’ll prove yet again that men are pretty much better than women at almost everything :)
If he wins,itll prove yet again that men are pretty much better than women at almost everything :)”
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Thanks for that-——and I will be using that opinion frequently.:-)
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Pervert on parade! The guy is a mentally ill self-mutilator. He needs extreme mental health treatment . When will he suicide ?
Who didn’t look at that photo and immediately think here was something wrong with this ‘girl’
I think its the long arms and man-hands and Adam’s apple.
Clearly looks more like a drag-queen than a miss universe contestant.
I bet he wins.
Yes, I recall that article from recently. Some quack doctor excavating a giant hole in your crotch no more makes you a woman than shoving a 2x4 up my ass makes me a fudgesicle.
“Yes, I recall that article from recently. Some quack doctor excavating a giant hole in your crotch no more makes you a woman than shoving a 2x4 up my ass makes me a fudgesicle.”
LOL!
The other contestants must be furious...but don’t dare say a word. Wait til the contest is over, then the mud will be flung.
I always thought Spain had a proud, traditionalist culture. Wow, how things have changed. Who was responsible of sendign this man-girl to the pagent? Surely not the people at large.
ALL eyes??? Here’s a pair that ain’t.
He’s still a boy. Can’t change that. A pretty boy but still a boy.
See, men can even do beauty pageants better than women.
Right ?
Try having a baby pervert !
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