A former beauty queen in Bolivia has been arrested on suspicion of gun trafficking and is under investigation in a drug case involving her boyfriend, who is on the run.
Alondra Mercado Campos, 22, was crowned Miss Charm Bolivia in 2023 and Miss Bolivia Mundo in 2020, but she now faces arms trafficking charges after a police raid on her home found a large cache of firearms and ammunition, according to local <a href="https://www.semana.com/gente/articulo/alondra-mercado-la-ex-reina-de-belleza-que-fue-enviada-a-la-carcel-tras-ser-imputada-por-trafico-de-armas/202315/">reports</a>, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/12/27/news/former-miss-bolivia-arrested-on-gun-trafficking-charges/?utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social">New York Post</a> reported.
Local prosecutor Gerardo Balderas said Campos and her boyfriend, identified as Andres Vasquez, were seen on cell phone videos at numerous parties with the arms recovered in the November raid.
Campos remains behind bars in Trinidad Women&#8217;s Prison after a judge ruled that the former beauty queen is a flight risk and should be held for 30 days in pre-trial detention.
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Former Miss Bolivia arrested on gun trafficking charges <a href="https://t.co/JrUQ5bocm8">https://t.co/JrUQ5bocm8</a> <a href="https://t.co/z40sGpDOJB">pic.twitter.com/z40sGpDOJB</a>
— New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1740062823990821121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
Her boyfriend, Vasquez, went on the run in late November and is wanted for alleged drug trafficking.
&#8220;The boyfriend is being investigated for trafficking in controlled substances and is a fugitive,&#8221; Balderas told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12903849/If-looks-kill-Former-Miss-Bolivia-22-arrested-following-allegations-arms-trafficking.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>.
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Forensic tests on Campos&#8217; BMW SUV are pending to determine if the former pageant winner should also be charged with drug offenses.
Campos is very active on social media with more than 40,000 followers. Some of her posts show her and Vasquez at various locations. Others show her in racy bikinis, mini skirts, and more.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/miss-italy-announces-men-are-not-allowed-wont-jump-on-trans-activism-bandwagon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miss Italy Announces Men Are Not Allowed, Won&#8217;t Jump On Trans Activism &#8216;Bandwagon&#8217;</a>

Diamond Silver Crown Miss Pageant Beauty Contest

Former Pageant Queen Arrested On Suspicion Of Gun Trafficking

Arrested

Beauty Pageant

Crime

News

World

The first-ever plus-sized <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/miss-universe">Miss Universe</a> contestant, Jane Dipika Garrett, said she struggles with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/obesity">weight gain</a> due to a medical condition.
The 22-year-old beauty pageant participant said she was surprised to have made it so far in the competition. Garrett, who represents Nepal, spoke with <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/plus-size-miss-universe-contestant-responds-critics-body-shaming">Fox News Digital</a> about the experience so far. 
&#8220;I really did not expect to get that much applause on the stage or that much spotlight,&#8221; Garrett told the outlet. &#8220;I came with a humble heart… but when I won on that stage, I got the loudest applause from the whole entire audience. And that felt so good because it was like a breakthrough moment for me and for society that they see something different, that they see real size beauty.&#8221;
Miss Nepal also noted how some viewers had negative reactions to her being a contender for Miss Universe.
&#8220;I see things like, &#8216;Oh, she&#8217;s a whale,&#8217; or &#8216;That&#8217;s disgusting. I&#8217;m going to vomit.&#8217; Or like, &#8216;She&#8217;s promoting obesity.&#8217; &#8216;Why don&#8217;t you go to the gym?&#8217; And things like that,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And it&#8217;s like they don&#8217;t even know my story. They don&#8217;t even know what I&#8217;m going through.&#8221;
Garrett told Fox News that she has a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This condition causes the ovaries to produce a higher amount of male sex hormones, which can lead to weight gain, irregular periods, acne, cysts, infertility, and excess hair growth.
&#8220;So it&#8217;s very easy for us to gain weight,” the beauty pageant contestant said. “Even if we just look at a piece of cake, we can gain weight,&#8221; she said. &#8220;[Critics are] just judging me from social media. And that&#8217;s their problem. I don&#8217;t let it bother me… Society can be very cruel. People can be very cruel sometimes.&#8221;
&#8220;Recently, I&#8217;ve gained a lot of weight because of my hormonal issues,” Garrett continued. “And that&#8217;s also really taken a toll on my mental health and my self-esteem because I thought that I wasn&#8217;t good enough or that I wasn&#8217;t beautiful enough. But I really had to get the validation for myself and learn how to have a positive mindset and to love myself despite not feeling my best self,&#8221; she said. 
&#8220;It&#8217;s about being confident in your own skin and accepting who you are, where you are at. So I had to really remove all of those messages that were coming from society as well as coming from my own mind. So I had to really brainwash myself again and accept who I am and love myself.&#8221;
Garrett also said she believes that any body type can be beautiful. 
&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to do something like what a celebrity does or that a model does to be considered beautiful. I think that what&#8217;s most important for you, whatever suits you, is what is beautiful for you. And then I think that&#8217;s so important to just embrace who you are and love who you are and not try to fit into what society says is beautiful,&#8221; Garrett added. 
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Miss Nepal went on to describe how she struggled with mental health and “had a lot of eating disorders and mental health issues” during childhood. 
&#8220;I would feel like I&#8217;m not good enough. I&#8217;m too big because I&#8217;ve always been naturally big-boned. The boys had naturally a bigger figure. I&#8217;ve always been curvy since I was a child,” she said.
Finally, Garrett said being healthy is more important than being very thin. &#8220;Some models can completely starve themselves and do like liposuction or something. And there&#8217;s nothing wrong with that. That&#8217;s their own choices, but then they could be promoting that as their beauty standards,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And then some people that are very overweight and are very unhealthy could be promoting that and saying that that that they&#8217;re being body positive. But I think that there should be a balance.&#8221; 
She added, “Body positivity for me basically stands for whatever body that you&#8217;re in. You accept it, you love yourself, you are embracing what you are, but you&#8217;re also going towards a healthy lifestyle.&#8221;
This year’s Miss Universe contest previously made headlines for the inclusion of two trans-identifying contestants, 23-year-old flight attendant Marina Machete who is competing as Miss Portugal and Rikkie Kollé, who won the title of Miss Netherlands.
Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua was crowned the 2023 Miss Universe during the 72nd Miss Universe Competition on November 18.

Miss Nepal

First Plus-Sized Miss Universe Contestant Describes Her Struggles With Weight Gain

Miss Universe

Obesity

Social Issues

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/beauty-pageant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beauty pageant</a> winner gave a pro-family, pro-motherhood answer during the Mrs. American contest over the weekend with a response that the audience loved as they cheered and went wild.
Mrs. South Dakota, Hannah Neeleman, a mother of seven and a farmer in Kamas, Utah, <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2023/08/27/beauty-pageant-winner-pro-family-hannah-neeleman-mrs-american/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">competed</a> on Friday in the <a href="https://www.pageantcircle.com/2023/08/mrs-american-2023-is-hannah-neeleman-of-south-dakota-for-mrs-world-2023.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national event</a> held at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort &amp; Casino in Nevada where she ended up winning the crown. It came after she gave an answer to the question, &#8220;When have you felt most empowered?&#8221;
&#8220;I have felt this feeling seven times now as I bring these sacred souls to the earth,&#8221; Neeleman told the audience as she got choked up.
&#8220;After I hold that newborn baby in my arms, the feeling of motherhood and bringing them to the earth is the most empowering feeling I have ever felt,&#8221; she added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Hannah Neeleman, a mom of SEVEN, was crowned Mrs. American 2023 this weekend. 
She was asked when she felt most empowered. 
&quot;I have felt this feeling seven times when I brought these sacred souls to this earth after I hold that newborn in my arms.&quot;<a href="https://t.co/WYYoTJv79D">pic.twitter.com/WYYoTJv79D</a>
&mdash; Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) <a href="https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1696190688654741792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Neelman is now expected to go on to compete for the title of Mrs. World 2023. She follows last year&#8217;s winner of the national pageant Krisdee Clark of South Carolina who was crowned Mrs. American 2022.
The beauty pageant winner, who goes by Ballerina Farm on social media based on the name of her <a href="https://ballerinafarm.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">company</a>, shared several clips on her Instagram from the contest. One showed the moment she was crowned the winner, beating out Mandy Fave of Minnesota and Jayme Perryman of Idaho who came in second and third place, <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2023/08/27/beauty-pageant-winner-pro-family-hannah-neeleman-mrs-american/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Caller</a> noted.
&#8220;I am humbled beyond words,&#8221; Neelman wrote. &#8220;Your new Mrs American. Thank you [mrspageantry] for capturing the crowning moment.&#8221;
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Many of the comments were congratulatory, but one asked the question that was on several people&#8217;s minds: how did Neelman run in South Dakota when she lives in Utah? One person responded that in &#8220;South Dakota they have an open invitation policy. You can interview and run if chosen even if you live in another state.&#8221;
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Neelman is a former Miss New York City and graduate of the Juilliard School, the <a href="https://www.pageantcircle.com/2023/08/mrs-american-2023-is-hannah-neeleman-of-south-dakota-for-mrs-world-2023.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pageant Circle</a> noted.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/miss-italy-announces-men-are-not-allowed-wont-jump-on-trans-activism-bandwagon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miss Italy Announces Men Are Not Allowed, Won&#8217;t Jump On Trans Activism &#8216;Bandwagon&#8217;</a>

Beauty Queen Props

Beauty Pageant Winner Gives Pro-Family Answer And Crowd Goes Wild

Beauty Queen

Celebrities

Entertainment

Motherhood

U.S.

The Miss Italy beauty pageant announced that biological males are not allowed in its annual competition, requiring all contestants to &#8220;be a woman from birth.&#8221;
Miss Italy Official Patron Patrizia Mirigliani told Radio Cusano that the competition will &#8220;not jump on the glittery bandwagon of trans activism,&#8221; The Blaze <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/miss-italy-transgender-canidates-ban?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
&#8220;Lately, beauty contests have been trying to make the news by also using strategies that I think are a bit absurd,&#8221; a Google Translate version of her comments read, <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/miss-netherlands-speaks-out-after-miss-italy-bans-transgender-contestants-1814782" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Newsweek.
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Miss Italy bans transgender contestants, must be a woman from birth: &#39;Will not jump on the glittery bandwagon of trans activism&#39;<a href="https://t.co/IWHAkR4XXW">https://t.co/IWHAkR4XXW</a>
&mdash; YAF (@yaf) <a href="https://twitter.com/yaf/status/1682519660263096320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Since it was born, my competition has foreseen in its regulation the clarification according to which one must be a woman from birth,&#8221; <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/miss-italy-pageant-bans-transgender-competitors-bit-absurd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mirigliani added</a>. &#8220;Probably because, even then, it was foreseen that beauty could undergo modifications, or that women could undergo modifications, or that men could become women.&#8221;
The announcement comes after the Miss Netherlands contest crowned trans-identifying male <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/post-truth-world-man-wins-miss-netherlands-sparking-outrage-on-twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rikki Valerie Kolle</a> the winner of the 2023 contest, beating out 9 women to get the title.
&#8220;A man just won &#8216;Miss Netherlands&#8217; 2023,&#8221; Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek tweeted. &#8220;Considering the fact that we live in a post-Truth world, I wasn&#8217;t even expecting anything else. It&#8217;s all so predictable and unoriginal at this point.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A man just won “Miss Netherlands” 2023. 
Considering the fact that we live in a post-Truth world, I wasn’t even expecting anything else. It’s all so predictable and unoriginal at this point. <a href="https://t.co/j6NKo2cCvu">pic.twitter.com/j6NKo2cCvu</a>
&mdash; Eva Vlaardingerbroek (@EvaVlaar) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvaVlaar/status/1677976646148554753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;The Netherlands is home to some of the most beautiful women on earth,&#8221; another account posted. &#8220;Of all these beautiful women, they just nominated a transgender man to be Miss Netherlands 2023. A man with a penis should be disqualified from any female beauty pageant and the fact that statement will gain me haters is just insane.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The Netherlands is home to some of the most beautiful women on earth.
I mean that with all sincerity. They are gorgeous.
Of all these beautiful women, they just nominated a transgender man to be Miss Netherlands 2023.
A man with a penis should be disqualified from any female…
&mdash; Ada Lluch 🇪🇸 (@ada_lluch) <a href="https://twitter.com/ada_lluch/status/1678031091410653187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Kolle will now go on to represent the country in the 2023 Miss Universe competition. The competition is owned by a trans-identifying male.
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Kolle called the Miss Italy decision &#8220;so sad,&#8221; Newsweek noted.
In the United States, the Miss USA pageant invited its first trans-identifying male entrant in from Nevada in 2021, The National Desk <a href="https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/miss-italy-pageant-will-bar-trans-entrants-wont-join-glittery-bandwagon-of-trans-activism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>. Not to be confused with the Miss United States of America beauty contest, which won a <a href="https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2022/11/02/21-35228.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">case</a> in a U.S. appeals court in 2022 that ruled it could not be forced to admit trans-identifying males as contestants.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/post-truth-world-man-wins-miss-netherlands-sparking-outrage-on-twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8216;Post-Truth World&#8217;: Man Wins Miss Netherlands, Sparking Outrage On Twitter</a>

Beauty Pageant-1

Miss Italy Announces Men Are Not Allowed, Won’t Jump On Trans Activism ‘Bandwagon’

Miss Italy Announces Men Are Not Allowed, Won't Jump On Trans Activism 'Bandwagon'

Italy

LGBTQ

Transgender

Rikkie Kolle, a 22-year-old man, beat out nine women to attain the title of “Miss Netherlands” on Saturday, sparking outrage on social media as many users said the win showed we are experiencing a trend of erasing women. 
 The Miss Netherlands competition is part of Miss Universe, and Kolle will compete in the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador later this year. 
“A man just won &#8216;Miss Netherlands&#8217; 2023,” Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek tweeted. “Considering the fact that we live in a post-Truth world, I wasn’t even expecting anything else. It’s all so predictable and unoriginal at this point,” she added. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A man just won “Miss Netherlands” 2023. 
Considering the fact that we live in a post-Truth world, I wasn’t even expecting anything else. It’s all so predictable and unoriginal at this point. <a href="https://t.co/j6NKo2cCvu">pic.twitter.com/j6NKo2cCvu</a>
&mdash; Eva Vlaardingerbroek (@EvaVlaar) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvaVlaar/status/1677976646148554753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Kolle, the first transgender-identifying “Miss Netherlands” winner, also participated in the “Holland&#8217;s Next Top Model” television show in 2018, <a href="https://nos.nl/artikel/2482139-rikkie-kolle-wint-als-eerste-trans-vrouw-de-titel-miss-nederland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Dutch public broadcaster NOS. He will be the second man to compete in Miss Universe, with the first hailing from Spain in 2018. Miss Universe has allowed trans-identifying contestants since 2012, People <a href="https://people.com/human-interest/daniela-arroyo-gonzalez-will-be-first-transgender-woman-compete-miss-universe-puerto-rico/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a>. 
The Miss Netherlands judges said Kolle “has a strong story with a clear mission,” adding that they were &#8220;convinced that the organization (of Miss Nederland, ed.) will enjoy working” with him, according to translated comments from NOS. 
&#8220;I DID IT !!!!!&#8221; Kolle posted to Instagram. &#8220;It&#8217;s unreal but I get to call myself @missnederland 2023. It was an educational and beautiful journey, my year can&#8217;t be broken anymore. Making my community proud and showing it can be done,&#8221; the translated post says.
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Some on Twitter mocked Kolle&#8217;s victory, with one user <a href="https://twitter.com/ThaGoat888/status/1678037670868467713" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pointing out</a> that it’s really “Mr. Nederland.” Others posted clown face emojis on their tweets reporting the news. 
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“The Netherlands is home to some of the most beautiful women on earth,” another account <a href="https://twitter.com/ada_lluch/status/1678031091410653187" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a>. “Of all these beautiful women, they just nominated a transgender man to be Miss Netherlands 2023. A man with a penis should be disqualified from any female beauty pageant and the fact that statement will gain me haters is just insane.”
Another <a href="https://twitter.com/jacksonhinklle/status/1678046705722314754" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>, “The West has completely lost the plot.”
Others pointed out the difference between Kolle and the runner-up — a woman — and said it’s clear who the winner should have been. 
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Nathalie Mogbelzada is the real Miss Netherlands 2023
&mdash; End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1678028735549784064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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“Nathalie Mogbelzada is the real Miss Netherlands 2023,” End Wokeness, a popular conservative account, posted in reply to pictures of Kolle and first runner-up Mogbelzada.

Rikki Kolle

‘Post-Truth World’: Man Wins Miss Netherlands, Sparking Outrage On Twitter

Netherlands

The Netherlands

A man who was crowned “Miss San Francisco” will compete in the 2023 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miss California</a> Pageant in July.
Monroe Lace, a man who identifies as a woman, won the Miss San Francisco pageant in March, qualifying the “beauty queen” to compete for the Miss California title next month. Lace is the first trans-identifying man to be crowned Miss San Francisco in the competition’s 99-year history.
&#8220;Every time I put on the sash, the weight of it reminds me of the weight of my job; of the responsibility I have to make a difference for young children,&#8221; Lace told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/transgender-miss-san-francisco-make-history-miss-california-pageant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS Bay Area</a>.
Lace, 25, visits a different elementary school almost every day. In a video shown by the local CBS affiliate, Lace can be seen reading “<a href="https://socialjusticebooks.org/sparkle-boy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sparkle Boy</a>,” a picture book about a boy who wants to wear women’s clothing, to a 4th-grade class at Tenderloin Community School.
The trans-identifying man told <a href="https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/california-crowns-first-transgender-miss-san-francisco/#:~:text=Monroe%20Lace%20crowned%20first%20transgender%20Miss%20San%20Francisco" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KRON 4</a> in March that he was “dreaming about this since I was 12 years old” and ran away from home.
In 2021, Kataluna Enriquez, another man identifying as a woman, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/07/03/1012666827/2021-miss-nevada-will-be-the-first-openly-transgender-miss-usa-contestant#:~:text=Press-,Miss%20Nevada%20Will%20Be%20The%20First%20Transgender%20Miss%20USA%20Contestant,the%20national%20pageant%20in%20November." target="_blank" rel="noopener">competed</a> in the Miss USA pageant as Miss Nevada. Lace seeks to be the second trans-identifying man to compete at the national competition. Another man <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/07/03/1012666827/2021-miss-nevada-will-be-the-first-openly-transgender-miss-usa-contestant#:~:text=Press-,Miss%20Nevada%20Will%20Be%20The%20First%20Transgender%20Miss%20USA%20Contestant,the%20national%20pageant%20in%20November." target="_blank" rel="noopener">competed</a> in the Miss New Hampshire competition after being <a href="https://abcnews4.com/news/nation-world/trans-contestant-becomes-first-miss-america-winner-at-new-hampshire-beauty-pageant-brian-nguyen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crowned</a> “Miss Greater Derry” last November.
The Miss San Francisco winner <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/transgender-miss-san-francisco-make-history-miss-california-pageant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claims</a> to have received death threats and “mean comments about my appearance or the way I look.” Despite this, Lace is undeterred from his child-focused mission, saying that he “know[s] that there’s a trans kid out there … who is reading [Lace’s] story as well.” CBS interviewed one 4th grader, who described Lace’s appearance as “beautiful” and “normal.”
The push for men to compete in women’s competitions has become an intense cultural and political question, prompting GOP presidential hopeful <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nikki-haley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nikki Haley</a> to <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4034876-haley-calls-transgender-athletes-in-sports-the-womens-issue-of-our-time/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">label</a> the issue “the women’s issue of our time.”
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Female athletes like <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-was-ready-to-go-to-dental-school-riley-gaines-became-an-activist-by-accident-but-shes-not-backing-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Riley Gaines</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fighting-for-women-lia-thomas-teammate-tells-her-story-to-matt-walsh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paula Scanlon</a> have spoken out against men in women’s sports, particularly concerning male swimmer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lia-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lia Thomas</a>. Recently, ESPN commentator Samantha Ponder <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/espns-samantha-ponder-bucks-network-joins-those-slamming-men-in-womens-sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broke</a> with her company’s orthodoxy to speak out against men competing in women’s sports.
Last year, a federal court <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/11/04/miss-united-states-of-america-wins-anita-green-suit-can-bar-transgender-contestants/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruled</a> that Miss USA, whose winner competes for the Miss Universe title and is a separate organization from Miss America, could keep its “natural born female” policy under the First Amendment’s Free Speech clause.

Monroe Lace

Trans-Identifying Man To Compete In Miss California Pageant

California

San Francisco

Women

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender</a>-identifying male <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/beauty-pageant">beauty pageant</a> contestant is celebrating a recent history-making win.
Brian Nguyen is the first biological man to win a Miss America competition after taking home the title of Miss Greater Derry 2023 in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-hampshire">New Hampshire</a>. Per the website, The Miss Greater Derry Scholarship Program provides scholarships to &#8220;young women&#8221; between the ages of 17 and 24.
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Stunning and beautiful. <a href="https://t.co/iEY44csjO6">pic.twitter.com/iEY44csjO6</a>
&mdash; Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1590777059454091264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Nguyen celebrated the win with a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckrj4V7rv5g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on Instagram. &#8220;My name is Brian Nguyen, I am 19 years old, and I am currently a freshman at Nashua Community College majoring in Business Management,&#8221; the Instagram post says.
“I hope to use my degree so that I can create sustainable, ethical, and inclusive products such as clothing, cosmetics, and accessories. I also hope to continue to grow my career in the modeling and social media industry.”
The teen also publicized an initiative called, “#QueensAreEverywhere,&#8221; which is “a media movement that helps the next generation develop self-confidence, realize their potential, and become the leaders of their destiny.”
Nguyen further described the movement, saying it focuses on community members who “have faced adversity and teach how they overcame it.”
The contestant concluded, “I am ecstatic to be the FIRST transgender woman to be a Miss America local titleholder, and I hope to make everyone proud and become the first to walk the Miss America stage. I am Brían Nguyen, your Miss Greater Derry 2023, and I am so excited for my year of service, to compete for Miss New Hampshire in April, and to make you all proud.”
Nguyen took home the title just after a federal appellate court <a href="https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2022/11/02/21-35228.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruled</a> that Miss United States of America LLC cannot be forced to include transgender-identifying men as contestants since it would obstruct the organization&#8217;s ability to express the &#8220;ideal vision of American womanhood.&#8221;
According to the ruling, the organization is allowed to enforce their &#8220;natural born female rule&#8221; because that rule is protected by the First Amendment.
The decision was made in response to a lawsuit filed by Anita Green, a trans-identifying male.
“I believe United States of America Miss is on the wrong side of history for choosing to actively discriminate against transgender people, but the road to creating meaningful change has always been a long and bumpy one,” Green said. “Transgender women are women. My message has always been consistent and my message is this: every person has beauty.”
Despite not being forced to include trans-identifying men, the Miss America organization can voluntarily include them, which is what happened with Miss Greater Derry 2023.
This is not the first time transgender-identifying individuals have entered the beauty pageant world. In October, a transgender person from Thailand <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/miss-universe-pageant-bought-by-transgender-tv-star-from-thailand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">purchased</a> the Miss Universe organization, while in 2021, a trans-identifying contestant named Kataluna Enriquez <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/transgender-beauty-queen-takes-crown-calls-win-a-celebration-of-womanhood-and-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">snagged the title</a> of Miss Silver State USA.

Miss Beauty Pageant Queen Contest in Asian Gown

Transgender-Identifying Teen Becomes First Male To Win A Miss America Sponsored Beauty Pageant

New Hampshire

A pair of former international beauty queens didn&#8217;t just come out of the closet last week, they sashayed down the aisle together.
Former Miss Argentina Mariana Varela and Miss Puerto Rico Fabiola Valentín told their <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkUOoo_glwy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">Instagram</a> followers they tied the knot on Oct. 28 after a two-year, secret romance, <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/11/02/miss-argentina-and-miss-puerto-rico-reveal-they-got-married/?utm_medium=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=NYPTwitter&amp;utm_campaign=SocialFlow">Page Six</a> reported Wednesday. The news stunned their fans, who responded with good wishes on social media.
&#8220;After deciding to keep our relationship private, we opened the doors to them on a special day. 28/10/22,&#8221; read the captions on their matching posts.
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Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico reveal they secretly got married <a href="https://t.co/7btIgVJ8jA">https://t.co/7btIgVJ8jA</a> <a href="https://t.co/ih7buJ8pM8">pic.twitter.com/ih7buJ8pM8</a>
&mdash; New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1587793851447758849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The Instagram video they both posted has racked up nearly 2 million views. It shows the couple in an apartment festooned with rose petals and balloons spelling out &#8216;Marry Me?&#8217; and captured the beauty queens flaunting matching engagement rings. The clip concludes with footage of the pair standing outside the Marriage Bureau in San Juan, Puerto Rico after the ceremony.
Argentina legalized <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lgbtq">same-sex marriage</a> in 2010, and Puerto Rico followed suit five years later.
The post has been seen and liked by several hundred thousands of followers, Page Six noted.
&#8220;Thanks for all the love!&#8221; Varela wrote. &#8220;We are very happy and blessed. I wish you that the love you are giving us is multiplied! Infinite thanks.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/beauty-pageant">pair</a> met in 2020 at the Miss Grand International competition. Although their respective social media accounts have long featured posts showing them together, fans were left to assume they were just good friends.
Varela has won several titles, Miss Universe Argentina in 2019, as well as Miss Grand Argentina in 2020, the <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/6582741/miss-mariana-varela-argentina-puerto-rico/">Sun</a> noted. She also represented her country at Miss Grand International 2020, landing in the top 10.
In 2020, Valentín was appointed as Miss Grand Puerto Rico.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/preachy-self-indulgent-dumpster-fire-gay-journo-says-bros-didnt-bomb-because-of-bigotry">&#8216;Preachy, Self-Indulgent Dumpster Fire&#8217;: Gay Journo Says &#8216;Bros&#8217; Didn’t Bomb Because Of &#8216;Bigotry&#8217;</a>

Beauty Queens Reveal They Secretly Wed After Keeping Their Relationship Private Since 2020

Same-Sex Marriage

Miss Universe has <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11334377/EXCL-Miss-Universe-SUSPENDS-Miss-USA-organizers-amid-claims-winner-crowned-unfairly.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended the organizers of Miss USA</a> after a furor erupted following the annual Miss USA pageant.
Contestants in the 2022 Miss USA pageant received an email from Miss Universe CEO Amy Emmerich informing them that Miss Brand, which runs the pageant, has been suspended from the pageant.
“After thorough deliberation, Miss Universe Organization has decided to suspend Miss Brand immediately,” Emmerich wrote. “Miss Universe will be taking over the Miss USA program while a comprehensive third-party investigation is conducted.”
“We are appreciative of the cooperation we&#8217;ve seen from Miss USA Director Crystle Stewart as we work through this process,” Emmerich added.
Stewart, the director of Miss Brand and the winner of Miss USA in 2008 before starting to run the pageant in 2020, has come under fire after contestants alleged that the pageant favored the eventual winner, Miss Texas, R&#8217;Bonney Gabriel. After Gabriel’s victory was announced and she walked around the stage, other contestants, in an unprecedented move, walked off the stage.
“You can see them exiting the stage before she even turns around. All of them. Not one of them stays on stage to congratulate her or run and hug her,” former contestant Jasmine Jones <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@callmejas0/video/7150795496850804014?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7150795496850804014" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> in a TikTok video. “In my pageantry opinion, something was off about that. In my ten years as a contestant, I’ve never seen the girls walk off stage and not congratulate the girls that’s won.”
“I am at a loss of words since it goes to show there were many signs that the winner was already predetermined and myself, amongst all my other sisters, weren’t even given the chance to lose,” Alexandra Lakhman, Miss New Jersey wrote.
Miss New York, Heather Elley, added, “The way I entered this pageant and gave it every last bit of my heart and soul. I had limiting beliefs of the outcome and did everything to ignore ALL the signs,” Yahoo News <a href="https://ph.news.yahoo.com/miss-usa-contestants-allege-pageant-rigged-favor-fil-am-queen-052929011.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJ2wN-GC-LvteCbAy2M2Qon46MRKHocdjk0TO21ISZT8Kwj07maxqoXu_Kn_rOBXxYy5a2YgubHI3BkctXemKnJLhgwmLIX6N_sE2kGl6C-HNaLb_Mx-KtRxTflH7FXCKRM64l77bztTFSnXbEpmZaAE5IC7k9m6MCmaIs2xx4M5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Miss Missouri, Mikala McGhee, claimed Gabriel’s victory had been preordained because she is a Filipina-American, and the Filipina community has a large pageant fanbase.
“I think that [Miss USA] are in a state where they are trying to revamp and re-glamorize pageantry here in the United States, because we&#8217;ve been seeing a constant drop off in enrollment for pageants, and not just in the Miss USA system,” she said.
“Not to say that Gabriel couldn&#8217;t have gone out here and won this on her own, but I think that she was a Houstonian — everyone, again, from the Miss Brand &#8230; and most from Miss USA Organization, including Crystle herself, are from Houston. They&#8217;re Houston natives,” McGhee continued.
Miss Montana, Heather Lee O&#8217;Keefe, agreed; she told The Daily Mail of an “inherent bias” for pageant entrants from Texas.
“I think this is a big issue that a lot of us are trying to bring light to is the fact [Stewart] owns so much of the organization. She owns the main organization, Miss USA, and she also owns the main sponsor of the organization which is a big issue we all have with it,” O&#8217;Keefe stated.
“[I heard] they were saying that there was a sabotage list, or that R&#8217;Bonney has already been preselected to win,” McGhee said. “I was completely ignoring it, because I was like this is a competition. I get it, you know. Stress can be high, you know, it becomes a little bit of like the intimidation factor. Are you trying to throw people off their game?”
“You know I was really looking at it kind of from a sports world perspective,” she continued. “But again, when you get there, and you start seeing some of the behavior that was displayed at Miss USA week, you know it made me take a step back, and really kind of reconsider. Well, what really was going on was, were these rumors true? And if so, why are we wasting our time?”
“The only thing I know was that there was clear and convincing favoritism toward her in the competition and leading up to the competition. She received more resources than we did. That is the root of the issue,” O’Keefe claimed.
Related: <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/miss-usa-pageant-accused-of-rigging-competition-after-non-winners-walk-off-stage/">Miss USA Pageant Accused Of Rigging Competition After Non-Winners Walk Off Stage</a>

Close-Up Of Tiara Against White Background

Miss USA Organizers Suspended By Miss Universe After Scandal Erupts

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/miss-universe">Miss Universe</a> contest recently announced a rules adjustment that would allow more <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/women">women</a> to compete, according to a recent report.
Insider <a href="https://www.insider.com/miss-universe-will-allow-married-women-mothers-to-compete-2022-8">reported</a> on the change to the current rules, which limited participation to only single women between the ages of 18 and 28 for all 70 years of the competition. The new update will allow <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mothers">mothers</a> and married women to also compete for the Miss Universe title.
“We all believe that women should have agency over their lives and that a human’s personal decisions should not be a barrier to their success,” an internal memo seen by The National said. A source claims the memo went out to national directors last week.
“The Miss Universe Organization is always the greatest and most innovative platform of its kind and now it will be more inclusive and welcoming to mothers and married women,” national director of Miss Universe Bahrain Josh Yugen told The National. 
“For me, this is aligned with what I have been fighting for — breaking stereotypes and unlearning the stigma that the old society has forced on us from many many decades ago.”
The Miss Universe winner from 2020 also celebrated the rules update, saying it’s about time moms and wives could participate.
“I honestly love that this is happening,” Miss Universe winner Andrea Meza said. “Just like society changes and women are now occupying leadership positions where in the past only men could, it was about time pageants changed and opened up to women with families.”
“There are a lot of women that got married young or had kids in their early 20s and they always wanted to participate in Miss Universe but couldn’t because of the rules,” she continued. “Now those women can start or boost their careers in entertainment because of these changes.”
The update means a lot to Meza personally as her win was tainted when photos of her in a wedding gown were discovered online, causing a scandal at the time. It turned out the images were from a photo shoot, but the Mexican model insists it shouldn’t matter if she’s married or single.
“A few people are against these changes because they always wanted to see a single, beautiful woman who is available for a relationship,” she said, per Insider. “They always wanted to see a woman that from the outside looks so perfect that she’s almost unreachable. The former is sexist and the latter is unrealistic.”
“Just like in any other industry, women are capable of having demanding leadership positions without or with a family, it is no different in this case,” Meza concluded.

The 69th Miss Universe Competition

Miss Universe Makes ‘Inclusive’ Rules Update To Allow Moms And Wives In Competition: Report

Miss Universe Makes 'Inclusive' Rules Update To Allow Moms And Wives In Competition: Report

Mothers

“Toddlers &amp; Tiaras” star Kailia Posey sent a sweet and sentimental gift to her mother, Marcy Posey Gatterman, just a few weeks before she died by suicide, according to <a href="https://pagesix.com/2022/05/24/kailia-posey-ordered-a-gift-for-her-mom-prior-to-tragic-death/">Page Six</a>.
The 16-year-old beauty pageant contestant found a special blanket on TikTok and had it delivered to her mother’s house, the publication reported. Posey’s mother said the blanket included a heartfelt quote, saying, “Dear Mom, even when I’m not close by, I want you to know I love and appreciate you. Always. Wrap yourself up in this and consider it a big hug. I love you.” 
Gatterman urged the public to keep a close eye on their loved ones and for parents to monitor teenagers’ cell phones for signs of depression.
“This is the worst thing a mother can go through. Parents who have teenagers that have phones, check their phones,” the grieving mother said. “And if you’re struggling, talk to your parents. They’re not judging you.”
She continued, addressing anyone going through challenging times: “They’re going to get you the help that you need, but we need to know what you need in order to get the help you need. Don’t keep it inside.”
Gatterman announced her teenage daughter had died by suicide on May 2 with a statement on social media. “I don’t have words or any thoughts. A beautiful baby girl is gone. Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss of Kailia. My baby forever.”
The family also shared a formal statement, The Daily Wire initially <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cause-of-death-of-16-year-old-former-toddlers-tiaras-contestant-revealed">reported</a>. “Although she was an accomplished teenager with a bright future ahead of her, unfortunately in one impetuous moment, she made the rash decision to end her earthly life.”
“She won countless crowns &amp; trophies after competing on the pageant circuit her entire life … ,” the family added. “Her highly acclaimed talent as a contortionist had already led to professional touring job offers, and she had recently been selected to be a cheerleader at her high school next fall.”
Posey only spent a short time appearing on the hit TLC reality series “Toddlers &amp; Tiaras” but spent a lot more time in the real world of beauty pageant competitions. She had most recently participated in the Miss Washington Teen USA pageant in February 2022. 
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free hotline for individuals in crisis or distress or for those looking to help someone else. It is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.

Tiara on table casting shadow

‘Toddlers & Tiaras’ Alum Kailia Posey Sent Her Mom A Sentimental Gift Weeks Before Death

‘Toddlers & Tiaras’: Kailia Posey Sent Her Mom A Sentimental Gift Weeks Before Death

Suicide

According to her family, 16-year-old former “Toddlers and Tiaras” star Kailia Posey died of suicide.
Posey’s family had announced her death on Monday.
The family told <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2022/05/03/toddlers-and-tiaras-star-kailia-posey-died-by-suicide-family-says/?adid=social-twa">TMZ</a> on Tuesday, “Although she was an accomplished teenager with a bright future ahead of her, unfortunately in one impetuous moment, she made the rash decision to end her earthly life.”
“She won countless crowns &amp; trophies after competing on the pageant circuit her entire life &#8230; ,” the family added. “Her highly acclaimed talent as a contortionist had already led to professional touring job offers, and she had recently been selected to be a cheerleader at her high school next fall.”
The family said Kailia, who loved flying, had expressed plans to pursue obtaining a commercial pilot&#8217;s license.
On Monday, Kailia’s mother, Marcy Posey Gatterman, wrote on Facebook, “I don’t have words or any thoughts. A beautiful baby girl is gone. Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss of Kailia. My baby forever.”
“Toddlers and Tiaras” first aired on TLC for seven seasons and ended in 2013, <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/former-toddlers-tiaras-contestant-kailia-posey-dead-at-16-her-mom-shares/">The Daily Wire</a> noted.
After appearing on “Toddlers and Tiaras” when she was five years old, Kailia Posey competed in beauty pageants as she grew older, including the Miss Washington Teen USA pageant in February. She enthused in February, “I’m going to be competing in Miss Washington teen USA in February and I am so excited!”
As a young child, Kailia Posey became famous for a photo of her that became a popular GIF that was captioned “grinning girl.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Kailia Posey, who became a popular GIF from her appearance on the reality TV show &quot;Toddlers &amp; Tiaras,&quot; has died unexpectedly at age 16, her mom says <a href="https://t.co/BVtBmUrQob">pic.twitter.com/BVtBmUrQob</a>
&mdash; BNO News (@BNONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1521508698186784771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Daily Wire noted that the show “Toddlers &amp; Tiaras” “inspired a lot of backlash from critics for objectifying young girls and having them dress in very provocative ways,” adding:
<blockquote>In an August 2015 custody hearing for a child featured on the show, a court-appointed psychologist <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/toddlers-tiaras-moms-worried-child-beauty-pageants-can-be-used-against-them-in-custody-cases">said</a>, “Children adorned with pageantry identities are not &#8216;playing&#8217; or &#8216;pretending.&#8217; Instead, they are trained to closely resemble their adult counterparts.” One “Toddlers &amp; Tiaras” mom <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/maddy-verst-dolly-parton-custody-toddlers-tiaras_n_1812317">got chastised</a> for padding her daughter&#8217;s chest to look more like Dolly Parton. Another caught heat for having her child mime smoking fake cigarettes on stage.</blockquote>
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free hotline for individuals in crisis or distress or for those looking to help someone else. It is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.

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Cause Of Death Of 16-Year-Old Former ‘Toddlers & Tiaras’ Contestant Revealed

16-Year-Old Former ‘Toddlers & Tiaras’ Contestant Dies of Suicide

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