Angela Ponce has become the first trans woman of Miss Universe in Spain
A trans woman was crowned as Miss Universe in Spain yesterday (29 June).
This is a first for the international beauty pageant.
Angela Ponce, 25, will represent Spain in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant scheduled end of the year.
First trans woman to win Miss Universe 
She bested 19 other candidates to become the first trans woman to win the title.
This isn’t Ponce’s first pageant.
She went for Miss World Spain in 2015, but did not win.
When she lost, she told the Daily Mail she already felt like a winner.
‘I have the regional crown on my head,’ Angela said about representing Cadiz at that time.
‘And I will keep fighting to make us seen, to make us heard and to demonstrate that I am already a queen with my own crown.’
The beauty pageant lifted the ban on trans women competing in 2012.
Three years later, Donald Trump sold the Miss Universe and Miss Teen USA pageants to talent agency WME-IMG.
Miss Universe President Paula Shugart said they made the decision as a result of ongoing discussions with GLAAD.
‘We have a long history of supporting equality for all women, and this was something we took very seriously,’ Shugart said.
The new owner of MUO has not released any statement on trans contestants for Miss Universe.
Other trans beauty pageants
In Pattaya, Thailand, the world’s biggest beauty pageant for trans women, Miss International Queen, took place in March.
Contenders from 26 countries around the world competed for the crown.
The beauty pageant was started 13 years ago to raise awareness about transgender issues.
Competitors battled it out in traditional beauty pageant categories such as, talent, swimwear, best national costume and evening gown.
The winner was 27-year-old singer, Nguyen Huong Giang, from Vietnam. Australia and Thailand were crowned first and second runner-up respectively.
