The most important beauty pageant in Panama enabling the participation of transgender women for the first time in their competitions starting this year.
The company Señorita Panamá announced in a statement on Monday that it made the decision according to the regulations of the Miss Universe Organization, with which it has an alliance, and in its effort to ensure inclusion.
Miss Panama promotes equality, respect, love for our culture and floklore and empowerment of Panamanian women”, Stressed the company organizing the competition to select the country’s representatives in international competitions, including Miss Universe.
He added that his measure is based on the laws of Panama and “strictly” follows the rules agreed with Miss Universe. She explained that trans women can participate according to the necessary legal and medical requirements.
Panama allows transgender people to change their identity, although the process takes a long time, according to activist groups. These people are also discriminated against according to human rights organizations.
In 2018, Spain’s Ángela Ponce became the first transgender woman to compete in the Miss Universe.
Miss Panama crowned an indigenous queen, Rosa Iveth Montezuma, for that edition of Miss Universe 2018, which was seen as an example of the contest promoting inclusion in a country where indigenous groups are historically marginalized.