The first openly transgender woman to compete in the race to become Miss Montana USA pageant has revealed what motivated her to enter her first pageant ever: Donald Trump’s election.
Anita Green, 26, will compete among 20 contestants on Sunday night in Missoula. The University Of Montana grad, who made history last year by becoming the first openly transgender person elected as national delegate to a nominating convention, is making her first steps into the world of pageantry.
Green, who is also a member of the executive board of the Missoula County Democrats, thought about entering the competition in the past, but never felt ready until the past presidential election.
Pioneer: Anita Green (pictured), 26, first openly transgender woman to compete in the race to become Miss Montana USA pageant
‘I thought about it for a couple of years but I just wasn’t sure I was ready for it,’ Green told Mic.
‘But I can definitely tell you that when Trump was elected into office, I knew that I needed to step up and do this. I was so nervous about this but I knew that I needed to compete. I wanted to be a positive role model in the community and instill a sense of hope within the trans community and give them some positive news.’
Her comments come just a few days after Trump announced his intention to ban transgender people from serving in the military—a policy that has since been frozen temporarily by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
Green, who currently works for an organization helping people who have developmental disabilities, has a Bachelor Of Arts in sociology with an emphasis in social justice and inequality, and a minor in communications.
Doing it: Green, who is a member of the executive board of the Missoula County Democrats, thought about entering the pageant in the past, but didnt ready until the presidential election
In order to prepare for the contest, she has hired a pageant coach, who was previously Miss Washinton USA, and has practiced walking in heels.
‘ I would describe my pageant runway walk as being on par with Sandra Bullock’s character from Miss Congeniality,’ she told Cosmopolitan.
‘I was struggling at first but with a lot — and I mean a lot — of practice, I’m ready to show off on stage! I have also been working out a lot.’
She has also lost about 50 pounds in the past year by changing her diet and exercise routine, and has found that preparing for the pageant has been ‘very good’ for her as she worked to adopt a new lifestyle.
Work: In order to prepare for the contest, she has hired a pageant coach and has practiced walking in heels
While Green has embraced the glitzy fun of pageantry, she isn’t taking her potential Miss Montana USA duties lightly.
‘My makeup experience has been very limited, so I have been watching a lot of YouTube tutorials on how to do my hair and whatnot,’ she added. ‘I’ve never gotten on stage in a bathing suit before either and that’s really exciting. But I am taking the pageant very seriously — if I am selected as Miss Montana USA, I am going to be representing my state and that’s something that I don’t take lightly.’
Green, who said it was ‘very difficult’ to grow up as a trans woman, explained that she didn’t realize she was transgender until later in her teens because she lacked information.
She ended up suffering from clinical depression after feeling like she was ‘living a lie’ for years.
But at the age of 17, Anita came out as transgender, and began hormone replacement therapy the following year. She has lived ‘full-time’ as Anita since turning 19.
Now, Green, who told People she has been ‘pleasantly surprised’ by how accepting her fellow competitors have proven, hopes to send a message of support to other transgender people.
‘I hope that competing inspires other transgender people to feel confident in themselves,’ she said, ‘and to feel comfortable to be who they are and not be ashamed of their transgender status.’