The first “trans woman” was crowned Miss Portugal.
“Proud to be the first trans woman to compete for the title of Miss Universe Portugal,” Marina Machete posted on Instagram. “For years it was not possible for me to participate and today I am proud to be part of this incredible group of finalists.”
Machete is the second biological male to qualify for the Miss Universe pageant.
One Portuguese parliament member criticized the crowning.
“When I read this news, I initially thought it was a joke,” Member of Parliament Rui Paulo Sousa wrote on Facebook. “It is undoubtedly a sad day for those young women who dreamed about [winning] the female beauty pageant.”
A biological male won Miss Universe Netherlands in July 2023, Rikkie Valerie Kolle.
“It’s unreal but I get to call myself [Miss Netherlands] 2023 … Making my community proud and showing it can be done,” Kolle wrote on Instagram. “Look at me now, standing here as a strong, empowering and confident trans woman.”
Reporting from The Blaze:
Men winning for the first time in the competition's history aligns with the company's acquisition by its transgender owner, Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip. The entrepreneur is a male-to-female transgender woman, has two children, and purchased Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA in October 2022, according to Nola.com. He is also the CEO of Thailand-based media company JKN Global Group Pcl.
