beauty pageant for transgender women crowns first black winner!

American beauty pageant contestant, Jazell Barbie Royale, has made history as the first Black winner of the “Miss International Queen” pageant. The 31-year-old competed against 19 other transgender women to win the global beauty competition held in Thailand. While the pageant has been going on since 2004, this is the first win for someone of Afro descent. Not only did she win the grand prize but she also won the “Best Talent” award.

Royale says that she would like to use her queen platform to educate others about HIV-testing, safe sex and medical care. To make us even bigger fans of hers, she used her competition time to urge Trump not to run for a second term. “Miss International Queen” has found a beautiful winner in Royale. In an interview, she bravely expressed her hesitation in deciding to participate in this contest. She said,  

“It was hard coming here to Thailand to compete for this pageant because there is no one else in the past that has won that looks like me. There was no one in the pageant this year that looks like me, or even close. So that was kind of hard and sometimes I’ve had my doubts, my feelings like am I wasting my time? Will I be treated equally? Will I even be considered to be the winner?”

She ultimately decided to compete with the hope of opening dialogue about the trans community. “I want them to see that we’re beautiful, we’re educated, we’re talented, and we can maneuver in society just like anyone else.”

Congratulations!!! We can’t wait to see what’s next for you!

Contestant Jazell Barbie Royale of the US reacts after winning the Miss International Queen 2019 transgender beauty contest of Miss International Queen 2019 at Pattaya city, Chonburi province, Thailand, 08 March 2019. (Photo by Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto via Getty Images)