Isabelle St. Cyr will be the first openly transgender woman to compete in the Miss Maine USA beauty pageant.
St. Cyr, who is 24 years old and was born in Howland, Maine, will compete in her first pageant next month at Miss Maine USA in Portland, according to Bangor Daily News.
St. Cyr’s entry into the pageant comes at a time when president Donald Trump is targeting trans people across the USA; most recently, he compared the supporters of trans youth to child abusers in a proclamation.
His second term as president began with several anti-trans executive orders signed, including one in February that aimed to ban women from female sports.
Speaking to the publication, St. Cyr emphasised that she did not sign up for the pageant in response to Trump’s administration, saying, “I’m just doing it because I love pageants and I just happen to be trans. I want to show everyone that trans women absolutely can do this pageant and can do well.”
The Miss Maine USA entrant also explained that there is a misconception over how welcoming the pageant world is; “I think there’s a lack of education surrounding the pageant and how welcoming they truly are now,” she said.
“They’ve opened up and changed the organization for the better, which is why I feel so proud to be with this organization rather than some others that maybe aren’t so open and welcoming to all women.”
Miss Maine USA runs under the Miss Universe Organisation, which changed its rules in 2012 to all trans women to compete.
Ava Clemente, assistant director of the Clemente Organisation, which produces the Miss USA, Miss Universe pageants and the state pageants in Massachusetts and Maine, said, “The Miss Universe Organization is committed to being inclusive and reflective of the evolving values of our society. We celebrate all women who embody the values of confidence, community and empowerment that the Miss USA program represents.”
Miss Maine USA is a two day event consisting of swimwear, gown and interview categories; the latter makes up 50% of a contestant’s mark, with the former two making up 25% each.
The pageant starts 10 May, with finalists announced 11 May, who then go through to a question and answer portion.
“I am trans but I am also just like everyone else,” St. Cyr said. “I grew up in a small town in Maine and I think that more people, if they gave me the chance, would realise that we have very similar experiences.”
St. Cyr currently lives in Monson, Masachussetts where she owns a farm – and holds the title of Miss Monson USA.
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