Transgender Women Are Now Making Strides In Indian And International Beauty Pageants
When I think about the progress the LGBTQ+ community has made it warms my heart. They’ve fought for every basic human right and now they are finally being recognized and appreciated. This Pride month saw a lot of notable changes. From the French government making it legal for lesbian couples to have children through IVF to Kataluna Enriquez creating history by being the first transgender woman to win the title of Miss Nevada. Of course, we are a long way from them being fully accepted but the strides that have been made lead me to believe that sooner or later we will get there.
For too long, people from the transgender community have had to endure being shunned and stripped of all their rights. Things are changing now, for the better. Kataluna Enriquez’ win is a clear sign of that. Closer to home though, last month, one of the largest beauty pageants in India, Miss Diva, lifted its ban on transgender contestants. The winner of Miss Diva goes on to compete in the Miss Universe competition. Hence, them allowing transgender women to participate is a massive step forward.
Talking about transgender women, Natasha Grover, Head of the Miss India Organization said, “Transwomen across the world have led exemplary lives full of stories that are not only inspiring but full of grit. They’ve participated in beauty pageants and we as a nation must also acknowledge their rights as we do for anyone else.”
Also Read: Miss Nevada Kataluna Enriquez Will Be First Transgender Woman To Compete In Miss USA Beauty Pageant
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Reportedly, the Miss Universe pageant opened its doors to transgender contestants in 2012. Although they didn’t have their first trans contestant until 2018. The first transwoman to win the Miss Universe crown was Angela Ponce from Spain. We are moving forward in the right direction. Now, this move by Miss Diva has ensured that India joins the ranks of Spain, Canada, Nepal, South Africa among other countries that enable transwomen to pursue their dreams of becoming models and beauty icons.
Hopefully, there will come a day where a trans woman competing in a beauty pageant or doing literally anything else that she wants, will be so normalized that it won’t make headlines. Until then, more power to transgender women!
