MISS SPAIN: First transgender beauty contestant to appear at Miss Universe pageant

SPAIN’S Miss Universe representative Angela Ponce, the first transsexual to take part in the contest, was eliminated in the first round in Bangkok on Sunday night.
The activist for LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals) recorded a video dedicated to the organisation, which details her journey through the competition and sees her pledge to continue to fight for a ‘more inclusive world’ which recognises the ‘diversity of human beings’.
Ponce, from Seville, was given a standing ovation at the end of the contest, which was won by Catriona Gray, of the Philippines, while some took to social media to criticise her ‘masculine’ appearance.
She wore a white flamenco dress inspired by Andalucia’s villages, and explained on her Instagram account that it represented ‘the purity and the peace that I bring as my message hand in hand with equality, respect, inclusion and love’.
This year was the first time the pageant has allowed transgender entrants.