BLUF: A shift in the direction of the Miss Universe pageant garners mixed reactions across countries as more trans women are crowned winners.
OSINT: Marina Machete made history by becoming the first trans woman to win the Miss Portugal title, a prestigious beauty contest typically won by cisgender women. Proudly announcing her victory on Instagram, the 28-year-old flight attendant is set to represent Portugal in the Miss Universe competition in El Salvador on November 18, 2023.
There are those, however, who are not in favor of this course of events. One such figure is Portuguese Member of Parliament, Rui Paulo Sousa, a representative from the newly formed right-wing populist party, Chega, who sees this development as a potential letdown for other women who dreamt of winning.
Marina is not the only trans woman to qualify for the Miss Universe pageant in 2023. Earlier this year, 22-year-old Rikkie Valerie Kolle – a trans woman herself – claimed the title of Miss Universe Netherlands, upstaging nine cisgender women.
Interestingly, these shifts have been paralleling the acquisition of the Miss Universe organization by Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, a trans woman who is also the CEO of JKN Global Group Pcl., a Thailand-based media company.
Yet, not all countries are open to this progress. Following the Miss Netherlands event, Miss Italy pageant put a ban on transgender contestants, causing several men to register for the beauty contest in protest. Comparing these various cases highlights the divide in global opinion on the issue.
RIGHT: From a strict Libertarian Republic Constitutionalist’s perspective, the changes in the Miss Universe competition demographics can be seen as a triumph of freedom and personal liberty, paramount values of libertarianism. The participation and eventual victory of trans women attests to their right to self-identify and pursue their personal ambitions. However, it also brings into focus the importance of maintaining fairness in the competition. This could spark conversations about creating inclusive platforms or implementing rules that ensure equal opportunities for all participants, without compromising the spirit of the competition.
LEFT: A National Socialist Democrat might view this shift in beauty contests as a dynamic reflection of the diversity and inclusion that society should strive for. However, they might also express concerns regarding potential repercussions for cisgender women participating in the contest and would advocate for balanced representation and equity for all women involved, be they transgender or cisgender. This could lead to discussions on restructuring beauty pageants to celebrate diversity and inclusivity without marginalizing any group.
AI: Analyzing the situation from an AI perspective, the recent events spotlight how societal norms, cultural acceptance, and notions of gender are continually evolving. The rise of transgender women in the beauty pageant circuit may stir discussions around the necessity for inclusivity and could potentially influence the reshaping of such contests worldwide. However, the fact that certain countries choose to uphold traditional norms by continuing to exclude certain groups emphasizes the complexity of global consensus-building on such issues. There is an evident tension between the move towards inclusivity and preserving conventional socio-cultural norms, both of which require acknowledgment and thoughtful dialogue.