A Spanish transsexual beauty queen has said that winning this year’s Miss Universe would be a victory ‘for human rights’ as some bookmakers today made her the favourite.
Angela Ponce, 27, from Seville, is in Bangkok, Thailand, where she hopes to become the first transgender woman to win the pageant.
Some online bookmakers have made her the odds-on front-runner for the contest on December 17, according to The Blast.
Spanish transsexual beauty queen Angela Ponce (pictured earlier this week in Bangkok) has said that winning this year’s Miss Universe would be a victory ‘for human rights’ as some bookmakers today made her the favourite
Angela Ponce, 27, from Seville, is in Bangkok, Thailand, where she hopes to become the first transgender woman to win the pageant
It comes days after Ponce said that taking the crown would be a ‘win for human rights’.
In an Interview with Time, she was asked what it would mean to win, knowing that Donald Trump, the former owner of Miss Universe, did not allowed transgender contestants until 2012.
‘More than a message to him, it would be a win for human rights,’ she said.
‘Trans women have been persecuted and erased for so long. If they give me the crown, it would show trans women are just as much women as cis women.’
Ponce, who first identified as female aged three, previously represented Cadiz in the 2015 Miss World Spain contest, but lost to Miss Barcelona Mireia Lalaguna who went on to win the top prize.
Some online bookmakers have made Ponce (pictured earlier this week in Thailand) the odds-on front-runner for the contest on December 17, according to The Blast
Ponce, who first identified as female aged three, previously represented Cadiz in the 2015 Miss World Spain contest, but lost to Miss Barcelona Mireia Lalaguna who went on to win the top prize
When she was 16, she started hormone therapy and at age 24 she underwent a vaginoplasty operation
Ponce wrote on Instagram shortly after winning Miss Universe Spain in June: ‘Bringing the name and colours of Spain before the universe is my great dream
Despite Ponce’s participation, at the time the Miss World Organization did not accept transgender contestants.
In response, she said: ‘At least I have the regional (Cadiz) crown on my head.’
In 2012, rival contest Miss Universe announced that it would allow transgender beauty queens after Canadian model Jenna Talackova successfully sued Miss Universe Canada organisers for initially disqualifying her for being transgender.
When she was 16, she started hormone therapy and at age 24 she underwent a vaginoplasty operation.
Ponce wrote on Instagram shortly after winning Miss Universe Spain in June: ‘Bringing the name and colours of Spain before the universe is my great dream.
‘My goal is to be a spokesperson for a message of inclusion, respect and diversity not only for the LGBTQ+ community but also for the entire world.’
The activist frequently shares updates with her 376,000 Instagram followers.