bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

The Washington Post

Angela Ponce, better known as the reigning Miss Spain, didn’t win this week’s Miss Universe pageant.
But she didn’t seem to mind.
Simply by representing her country this year, Ponce became the first transgender woman to compete in Miss Universe. After the preliminary rounds, the 27-year-old model said it was “an honour and pride” to be part of the history of 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 wrote on Instagram on Friday.
“And today I am here, proudly representing my nation, all women and human rights.”

Though Miss Universe – and other beauty pageants – have undergone scrutiny (and changes) in recent years to avoid objectifying women, Ponce said she embraced the competition as a chance to fulfil not only her personal ambitions but to be an ambassador for Spanish culture.
For her national costume, she donned a traditional Spanish “bata de cola”.
“This is an iconic piece in Spain, also known all over the world,” Ponce explained on Instagram.
“It is a precious reference of my country.”












View this post on Instagram


















My National Costume in Miss Universe is a traditional Spanish "bata de cola". This is an iconic piece in Spain, also known all over the world; it is a precious reference of my country. To make this wonderful National Costume, @luisfernandezdisenador was inspired by a number of things. The first one being the white villages of Andalusia, since we wanted to honor where I come from (Seville). The white of the villages, of purity... White representing peace, the peace that I bring as my message hand and hand with equality, respect, inclusion and love. A white 'bata de cola' that crosses a river of beautiful red carnations made by @hatsbyroiz. Secondly we had the carnations as inspiration because they are the most typical and recognizable flower of my beautiful country. For that reason I wanted this flower and its color because it represents the love that, as Miss Universe Spain 2018, I'm transmitting to the whole world. That is the motivate behind a river of red carnations shaped around my head and body, almost as a Spanish flag. As complements, I carried a fan to expand the scent of our land, a beautiful tortoise-shell & Swarovski clip that crowns my head as Miss Universe Spain 2018.
A post shared by ANGELA PONCE (@angelaponceofficial) on Dec 11, 2018 at 4:30am PST



For the talent portion, Ponce danced the flamenco, something she said she had been doing since she was 6 years old. For the longest time, her dream was merely to perform the dance while wearing a flamenco dress. That didn’t happen until she was 17 years old.
“For a long time those were things I always wanted to do,” Ponce told Miss Universe organisers.
“I put so much focus into it, that in the end, it became a reality.”
Philippines contestant Catriona Gray named Miss Universe
She smiled and motioned to herself, as if to emphasise: she wasn’t just dancing the flamenco in a dress now. She was doing it in a dress at Miss Universe.
“None of us are obligated to be here. And for me, it’s a platform to share my voice,” she told Today Style.
“To me, feminism is freedom to do what you want, when you want to. We cannot put brakes on the freedom of women, on one platform or another.”


The pageant seemed to embrace her, too, tweeting video of Ponce entering the stage with the caption: “A walk to remember. A historic night for #MissUniverse.”
It was a sharp change for the Miss Universe organisation, which was criticised in 2012 after disqualifying transgender woman Jenna Talackova from the Miss Canada competition that year because she was not “naturally born” a woman.

A walk to remember. A historic night for #MissUniverse. pic.twitter.com/wWT5TmWCRp
— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 17, 2018

Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers is caught on video mocking Asian rivals’ English at Miss Universe show
After Talackova threatened legal action, the organisation – then owned by Donald Trump – changed the rules to allow transgender contestants in its pageants.
“As long as she meets the standards of legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, which we understand that she does, Jenna Talackova is free to compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant,” Trump lawyer Michael Cohen said at the time.
“Nobody is capitulating . . . Like all the other contestants, [Talackova] is wished the best of luck by Mr Trump.”

Talackova ultimately finished in the top 12 of the Miss Canada pageant and was one of four contestants awarded “Miss Congeniality”.
She did not advance to the Miss Universe pageant that year.
Fast-forward six years.
Online commenters poke fun at Miss Universe Singapore’s costume, inspired by Trump-Kim summit
Ponce, who is from Pilas in southern Spain, acknowledged that it had been difficult at times to live as a woman “in a society where everyone said I couldn’t do that” – but credited her family for supporting her.
“They’re my foundation so that my life could unfold,” Ponce told Today.com.
“They saw to it that I did not have a traumatic childhood. They are my strength.”
The final portions of the Miss Universe pageant were broadcast live Monday. Miss Philippines, 24-year-old Catriona Gray, was crowned the 2018 winner.


Who plays Scott Hunter on Heated Rivalry? Meet François Arnaud

Meet Connor Storrie, who plays Ilya Rozanov in Heated Rivalry

Hooked on ice hockey drama Heated Rivalry? Meet Hudson Williams, who plays Shane Hollander

China wife of gay husband contests estate against his lover and parents after man’s death

LGBTQ

Miss Spain Angela Ponce: the transgender beauty who made Miss Universe history

epa07209128 Miss Spain Angela Ponce, the first transgender woman to take part in the Miss Universe contest, speaks to the media at a hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, 03 December 2018 (issued 05 December 2018). The 67th Miss Universe will take place on 17 December 2018 and will comprise of competitors from 95 nations. EPA-EFE/NARONG SANGNAK

Angela Ponce of Spain poses during an interview with journalists at a media event of 2018 Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok on December 14, 2018. - Angela is the first transgender contestant in the Miss Universe pageant after she was crowned Miss Universe Spain for 2018. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

Miss Spain Angela Ponce, the first transgender woman to take part in the Miss Universe contest. Photo: EPA

Philippines contestant Catriona Gray named Miss Universe

Catriona Gray of the Philippines (centre). Photo: AFP

Catriona Gray of the Philippines (L) reacts after winning the Miss Universe 2018 with Miss Universe first runner up Tamaryn Green of South Africa on December 17, 2018 in Bangkok. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

Miss Philippines Catriona Gray reacts after being crowned Miss Universe during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

News

World

Europe

Miss Spain’s Angela Ponce was the first transgender contestant in Miss Universe’s 66-year history


Angela Ponce, better known as the reigning Miss Spain, didn’t win this week’s Miss Universe pageant. But she didn’t seem to mind.


Miss Spain Angela Ponce: the transgender beauty who made Miss Universe history

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Miss Spain’s Angela Ponce was the first transgender contestant in Miss Universe’s 66-year history

Miss Spain’s Angela Ponce was the first transgender contestant in Miss Universe’s 66-year history