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.
Yuck
Exactly. He has a surgically-mutilated penis and scrotum.
Deuteronomy 23:1.
He's seeking the title "Miss You-Be-Cursed".
Faggot (pronounced “fagg-OH”).
A rose by any other name...
She is going to win the codpiece competition for sure.
I have to watch that movie just about every week. Mom’s favorite and she has Alzheimer’s. It’s not the worst movie and Benjamin Bratt was pretty cute back then. And he does not attempt to sing in Spanish on this one.
It is so unfair that even men / transgenders don’t protect the stupid high heels with bathing suits competition. There is no need to mutilate the feet and hurt the spine for beauty! I would have thought s/he would be on my side! No heels!
So, he’s propagating mental illness? I saw the 20 semi-finalists, and he didn’t make it. Not amazing, considering he has a man’s face and hips.
Nice to know the Miss Universe contest can’t be bought.
Sounds like the fix is in.
Don’t think I will be watching.
Because he owned Miss USA and apparently also the Miss Universe that it feeds into.
What they don't have is babies.
The future belongs to the fertile.
thanks. he sold all that in 2015, yet gets hammered 3 years later...MSM sux...
I hope he does win. If men in wigs beat biological females at everything, maybe some of these young women will finally snap out of this casual, unthinking liberalism that has destroyed this country and western civilization in general.
Miss Philippines won (again).
Looks like I ate my words. Catriona Gray from the Philippines is the winner.
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