History Transcending: Transgender Beauty Pageant Contestents

Disqualified Transgender Miss Canada
 contestent: Jenna Talackova

Beauty pageants have been a staple in American culture since 1921. The contests gather women from each state( and in state contests from various localities within a state) to determine which is the most beautiful. Over the years the contests have evolved to include talent portions and question rounds where the contestants are asked questions regarding current events and policies. Additionally, many contestants and winners are chosen based on noble ambitions, charitable contributions, and acts of community service. But at their core, every beauty pageant is about beauty.

Throughout history, the most popular beauty pageants have only included female contestants, prohibiting transgender women from competing in any pageant organized by The Miss Universe Organization. It wasn't until 201 that a change.org petition convinced Donald Trump (oddly enough) to change the rules after the organization disqualified the Miss Canda contestant Jenna Talackova after learning she was transgender. This allowed Kylan Arianna Wenzel (and trans women like her) to be allowed to compete in the contests. Wenzel was the first openly transgender woman to compete in one such contest in California in 2013. And now Anita Green is the first openly transgender woman to compete in the Miss Montana, USA contest.

2013 Trans Miss California, USA
 contestant: Kylan Wenzel

There are other beauty pageants around the world that are only for transgender women, but the inclusion in the most recognized beauty contest in the world is a big step for the transgender community. Many of us watched beauty pageants as kids and adults in awe and wonder, dreaming of being able to compete one day. However, we still have a long way to go. The only open contestants that have competed so far have been contestants in states that are usually liberal. Additionally, these contestants did not get selected as finalists in their respective contests and genetic women have resigned from various contests within the Miss Universe Organization simply because of the rule change.

2017 Trans Miss Montana, USA
contestant: Anita Green

In 2015 Caitlyn Jenner (once deemed: the world's greatest athlete) came out as a transgender woman. The 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer and her public status were controversial, even within the transgender community. Her decision to go fully public with her transition in a special Vanity Fair interview and the cover was greeted with a great deal of respect from the media, many of them commenting on how beautiful and brave she was. It brought the discussions of transgender rights, equality, and acceptance onto a larger stage.
With Jenner's reception and the slow but steady inclusion of transgender women in traditionally cisgender beauty contests, perhaps one day a Transgender Miss USA or even Misss Universe will be crowned. Perhaps there is already a young transgender girl who watches beauty pageants on T.V. and dreams of the day she will walk across that stage and be crowned Miss USA. Perhaps she is already on her way.