Miss South Africa pageant now open for transgender women


For the first time in history, the Miss South Africa pageant is now open for transgender women to participate.

According to the Miss South Africa organization, interested applicants need to have a valid South African ID document that shows "female" as their amended sex in order to be eligible to compete.

South Africa has been blazing a trail in a continent where many countries still consider homosexuality taboo. The rainbow nation was the fifth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

Out of the 54 states recognized by the United Nations or African Union or both, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association stated in 2015 that homosexuality is outlawed in 34 African countries.

Spain's Angela Ponce became the first-ever transgender woman to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. Since then, several other national pageants that traditionally only accept naturally born female changed their rules.

Photo: Miss South Africa / Facebook

Popular posts from this blog

Miss Universe 2023: Meet the contestants

Image
A total of 85 beauties from around the world will compete in the highly anticipated 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador this November. This year's competition will mark the debut of Pakistan and the returns of 10 countries consisting of Denmark, Egypt, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mongolia, Norway, and Zimbabwe. For the first time in its history, both the Netherlands and Portugal will be represented by transgender women following Spain's Angela Ponce who participated in 2018. The current Miss Universe Colombia and Guatemala will be the first married women and mothers to compete since the Miss Universe Organization changed its rules to become more inclusive. Miss Universe 2023 final will be streamed on The Roku Channel while Telemundo will broadcast the show within the United States as well as local channels around the world. The reigning Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel of the United States of America will crown her successor at the culmination of this...
Read more

Vanessa Pulgarin of Colombia crowned MGI All Stars 2026

Image
Vanessa Pulgarin from Colombia was proclaimed the winner MGI All Stars 2026 on Saturday, May 30 at MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand. The 34-year-old model bested over 50 other contestants to win the first edition of the pageant. She is expected to return for the second edition to defend her title. Faith Maria Porter of Ghana and Nguyen Huong Giang of Vietnam were respectively named the first and second runners-up while Mariana Bečková of the Czech Republic and Gazini Ganados of the Philippines completed the Top 5. Beauties from Colombia, Priscilla Londoño; Dominican Republic, Yamilex Hernández; Peru, Suheyn Cipriani; Thailand, Tharina Botes; and Venezuela, Gabriela de la Cruz made the Top 10. The rest of the Top 18 were from China, Zewen Qin; Dominican Republic, Nicole Puello; Ecuador, Samantha Quenedit; Mongolia, Azzaya Tsogt-Ochir; Mexico, Francia Cortés; Myanmar, Thet San Andersen; Philippines, Fuschia Anne Ravena; and Venezuela. Isabella Santiago. A distinguished panel o...
Read more

Miss Universe Croatia 2026 is Antea Mršić from Zagreb

Image
Antea Mršić edged out 14 other contestants to win Miss Universe Croatia 2026 on Monday, May 25 at Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb. The 24-year-old sports management graduate from Zagreb will now prepare to represent Croatia at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant in Puerto Rico this November. Monika Vojvodić was named first runner-up while Laura Vujica, Magdalena Fofić and Beata Šimat were the second, third and fourth runners-up, respectively. "I am endlessly grateful for every single person who believed in me," the new Miss Universe Croatia shared online. "I am excited to have the opportunity to represent Croatia on the world stage," she added. This year's pageant marked the 30th anniversary edition of the national competition. Last year's winner Laura Gnjatović crowned her successor at the end of the event. She made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2025 last November in Thailand. Road to the 75th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared ...
Read more

Miss Universe Peru 2026 is Luren Márquez

Image
Luren Márquez was crowned Miss Peru 2026 (Miss Universe Peru) in a special ceremony held on Wednesday, April 15 at the Teatro Municipal del Callao. The 27-year-old television presenter and model received the crown from her predecessor Karla Bacigalupo with the presence of the reigning Miss Universe Fátima Bosch from Mexico. Born in Ica, the new Miss Universe Peru is a business administration graduate from the University of Lima. She also obtained her degree in communication from the Florida Internationl University in the USA. No stranger to pageantry, Luren placed first runner-up at the Miss Peru 2024 pageant. She will now prepare to represent her country at Miss Universe 2026 to be held in Puerto Rico later this year. Road to the 75th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by CARLOS RODRIGUEZ (@carlosrodriguez.bo) Photos: 321VAESTUDIO, Carlos Rodriguez / Instagram
Read more

Miss Universe 2026 host country and venue officially announced

Image
The Miss Universe Organization has officially confirmed that Puerto Rico will be the host country for the Miss Universe 2026 pageant. Puerto Rican politician Jenniffer González Colón also made an announcement in a conference held on Tuesday, September 23 in San Juan. The 75th Miss Universe edition will be held in November 2026 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, the largest indoor entertainment and sports arena in Puerto Rico. Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark was present at the conference alongside former winners from Puerto Rico — Deborah Carthy-Deu (1985), Dayanara Torres (1993), Denise Quiñones (2001), and Zuleyka Rivera (2006). Next year's competition will be the fourth Miss Universe edition to take place in Puerto Rico after 1972 (Dorado), 2001 (Bayamón), and 2002 (San Juan). Contestants from 135 countries and territories around the world are expected to compete for the crown. Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U....
Read more

The Miss Philippines 2026 titleholders officially crowned

Image
The coronation ball for The Miss Philippines 2026 took place on Sunday, May 10, at the Grand Ballroom in City of Dreams Manila. Hosted by former titleholder and Miss Supranational runner-up Pauline Amelinckx, the glittering event was graced by reigning international queens Miss Cosmo 2025 Yolina Lindquist and Miss Charm 2025 Anna Blanco. Following their participation in the recently concluded Miss Universe Philippines 2026 competition, eight new queens have been crowned to represent the Philippines in various international pageants overseas. Meet the new queens: Miss Supranational Philippines 2027 - Allyson Hetland for Miss Supranational 2027 Miss Cosmo Philippines 2026 - Bella Ysmael for Miss Cosmo 2026 Miss Charm Philippines 2026 - Apriel Smith for Miss Charm 2026 Miss Eco International Philippines 2027 - Jenrose Javier for Miss Eco International 2027 Miss Eco Teen Philippines 2026 - Trexy Paris Roxas for Miss Eco Teen International 2026 Miss Tourism World Philippines 2026 - Ma...
Read more

Miss Universe Dominican Republic 2024 is Celinee Santos Frias

Image
Celinee Santos Frias was crowned Miss Universe Dominican Republic 2024 during the Miss Republica Dominicana 2024 final competition held on Sunday, May 5 at Centro de Convenciones Sambil in Santo Domingo. The 24-year-old model and actress, representing Distrito Nacional, will now represent the Dominican Republic at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico later this year. Melissa Nuñez of the Dominican Community in the USA was first runner-up. She received the title Miss International Dominican Republic 2024 and will go to Miss International 2024. The second runner-up, Haidy Cruz of Monte Cristi was named Reina Hispanoamericana Dominican Republic 2024 and will go to Reina Hispanoamericana 2024. Gemmy Quelliz of Santo Domingo Este, Alba Blair of Jarabacoa, and Karibel Perez of Santiago were the third, fourth, and fifth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Dominican Republic succeeds the previous winner Mariana Downing who unfortunately unplaced during last year's...
Read more

Czech Republic's Isabella Rossini wins Miss Aura International 2026

Image
Isabella Rossini, 20, from Czech Republic, was crowned Miss Aura International 2026 at the conclusion of the pageant on Friday, May 22 at FashionTV Luxe Resort in Antalya, Turkey. The professional model, singer and theater actress bested over 40 other contestants to win the international title. She succeeds Krishan Pauline Alerre of the Philippines. Barbara Wolfenson of Chile was named first runner-up while Azaliya Timergalieva of Bashkortostan, Aleksandra Kochergina of Tatarstan, Melanie Portocarrero Cury of Colombia were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 11 finalists were the contestants from Japan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Spain and Thailand. The rest of the Top 20 were from Brazil, Latvia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the USA. Prior to winning the title, the new Miss Aura International was proclaimed first runner-up and bagged the Miss Sympathy award at Miss České Republiky 2025. Isabella became the sec...
Read more

Miss Nederland 2023: Miss Universe Netherlands 2023 is Rikkie Valerie Kollé

Image
Rikkie Valerie Kollé was crowned Miss Nederland 2023 (Miss Universe Netherlands 2023) on Saturday, July 8 at the AFAS Theater in Leusden. The 22-year-old Dutch-Moluccan model and actress living in Breda succeeds Ona Moody and will now prepare to represent the Netherlands at the 72nd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2023) in El Salvador. Nathalie Mogbelzada, 26, from Amsterdam, was named first runner-up while Habiba Mostafa and Lou Dirchs were awarded Miss Congeniality and Miss Social Media, respectively. Reigning Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel of the USA graced the glittering event as a special guest. The new Miss Universe Netherlands made history as she became the first-ever transgender woman to win the national title. She will be the second transgender representative at the Miss Universe pageant next to Spain's Angela Ponce who participated in 2018. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Nederland Organisatie (@missnederland) Photos: William Rutten...
Read more

Miss Universe Paraguay 2026 is Gretha Matiauda

Image
Former Miss Earth Paraguay Gretha Matiauda has recently been appointed as her country's official representative in the Miss Universe 2026 pageant. The 24-year-old beauty from Asunción is an economist, international model and entrepreneur. She succeeds last year's titleholder Yanina Gómez who made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2025. No stranger to pageantry, Gretha has previously placed fourth runner-up at Miss United Continents 2022 in Ecuador and competed in Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam. In a recent post on social media, she wrote, "Today I begin writing a new story, a new chapter where dreams cease to be promises, and become responsibilities." "Being Miss Universe Paraguay is not just about wearing a crown; it's about carrying the voice of a country, the soul of its people, and the strength of every woman who never stopped believing," she added. The 75th Miss Universe pageant will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico later this year. Meet the new Miss Universe...
Read more