Transwomen in Miss Universe? Bea Santiago reacts

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jul 16 2018 12:25 PM

MANILA – Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago was asked to react to the idea of a transwoman competing in this year’s Miss Universe pageant.

This after it was reported that Angela Ponce, a 25-year-old transwoman, was crowned Miss Universe Spain 2018.

In an interview with the entertainment website Push, Santiago said she does not see anything wrong with the entry of transwomen in Miss Universe.

“I have no problem [with it],” she said, “because I grew up with a lot of friends and family members who are part of the LGBT community.”

“For me, it’s kind of old news because I think years ago, Miss Universe Canada wanted to push the barrier, and that’s the reason why allowed na ‘yung transgender community to join Miss Universe,” she continued. “So it wasn’t really like new news kasi alam na natin. It’s just a matter of kung sinong mauunang magpadala ng representative who’s a transgender.”

Santiago went on to express her gratitude to the LGBT community, saying that they have become an important part of her journey as a beauty queen.

“All of my mentors [are gay],” she noted. “I wouldn’t win Miss International if it wasn’t for them.”

In separate interviews, beauty queens Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray also stated that they have no problem with the entry of transwomen in Miss Universe.

Wurtzbach won the Miss Universe crown for the Philippines in 2015, while Gray is set to represent the country in this year’s pageant.

Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 Winwyn Marquez, meanwhile, said she “has nothing against transgenders” but would prefer having Miss Universe exclusive to “natural-born women.”

http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/07/16/18/transwomen-in-miss-universe-bea-santiago-reacts