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For the first time in the history of the Miss Universe contest, a transgender woman will compete for the crown.
Angela Ponce, 26, won the Spanish Miss Universe contest on June 29, defeating 22 other competitors for the coveted spot. Ponce, who lives in Seville, Spain, will compete in the Miss Universe World Contest in the Philippines in December.
"Bringing the name and colors of Spain before the universe is my big dream," writes Ponce on Instagram after winning. "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 world."
Transgender women do not could no longer participate in Miss Universe until five years old. In 2012, Jenna Talackova of Canada was excluded from the competition because she was transgender, but with the help of lawyer Gloria Allred, she legally challenged the rule and was canceled. The ban was lifted in 2013.
"Let's do history," Ponce tweeted two days after winning the title of Miss Universe of Spain.
Ponce participated in the Miss World Spain stage in 2015 but lost to Miss Barcelona Mireia Lalaguna.
"The company is not educated for diversity, it's what made me go public, I mean, I'm and I'm not weird," said Ponce to the Spanish newspaper 20 Minutos at the time. "I just have a different story, a woman who came to life differently, but I'm a woman."
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