Angela Ponce
Angela Ponce
"I'm showing that trans women can be whatever they want to be: a teacher, a mother, a doctor, a politician and even Miss Universe."
"I'm showing that trans women can be whatever they want to be: a teacher, a mother, a doctor, a politician and even Miss Universe."
She may have failed to make it to the Top 20 but the spotlight still blazed over Spain's Miss Universe bet Angela Ponce,
the first transgender hopeful in the pageant's history.
The Miss Universe 2018 coronation program happened on Monday, December 17 (Manila time).
Angela, 27, is the first transgender constestant to participate in the pageant since it reversed a longstanding rule that only "naturally born" women may join. It's been a tough journey – she's had to battle naysayers and doubters, even within the pageant-loving community.
Spain did not make it to the Top 20 but got a special video tribute after the finalists made their opening statements.
The video traced Angela's struggles from childhood until she finally made it to Thailand, where the Miss Universe pageant was held. "I don't need to win Miss Universe. I only need to be here," she said in the video.
"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 earlier told the Agence France-Presse in an interview, while gesturing to her head.
Angela walked the stage one last time after the video tribute as she was cheered on by an international pageant.
Angela Ponce and her advocacy for transgender youth
Miss Universe Spain Angela Ponce’s participation in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant is a huge game changer in the competition. Being the first transgender female to compete in the pageant has given her a larger platform to talk about her advocacy and personal experience.
The transgender community is one of the most abused communities within the LGBT community. It is said that 30%-50% of transgender people experience dating violence a huge statistical gap compared to the 28%-33% of the general population. That is why Angela Ponce’s advocacy of helping transgender youths is such an importance as it is estimated that about 41% of transgender people will attempt suicide. The 25-year old model has been a volunteer for a bit over three years for the Daniela Foundation, where she helps provide counselling to troubled transgender teenagers as well as providing their families information on dealing with difficulties being with a transgender family member.
Here are additional snippets from the New York Times on Angela:
Three years ago, after winning a regional beauty contest, she moved to Madrid to pursue her career as a model. At the same time, she also started collaborating with the Daniela Foundation, which was established by a Spanish woman who fought against the management of a school that did not want to recognize her daughter as a transgender girl.
As one of the foundation’s volunteers, Ms. Ponce gives talks in schools and meets with children and parents who are struggling with transgender issues. On one occasion, she said, she received a phone call in the middle of the night from a transgender girl threatening to commit suicide because of the social pressures.
Guillermo Escobar, who is the president of Spain’s national beauty contest, acknowledged that Ms. Ponce’s win as a transgender candidate last month had helped raise the profile of the competition, but insisted that “the jury simply valued her as a great woman.”
“She is a pioneer, sending a message of equality and respect, but my hope is that we will eventually have many more candidates like her and this will no longer make the headlines,” he added.
Sources
Angela Ponce and her advocacy for transgender youth https://sashesandscripts.wordpress.com/2018/08/18/angela-ponce-her-advocacy-for-transgender-youth/
Angela Ponce makes history: 'I don't need to win Miss Universe. I only need to be here. https://r3.rappler.com/life-and-style/specials/miss-universe/219062-angela-ponce-statement-2018-pageant-tribute
Other Sources
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/13/world/europe/spain-transgender-ponce-miss-universe.html
https://www.joinonelove.org/learn/transgender_relationship_abuse/