Story By: Georgina Jadikovska, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
Miss Brazil has welcomed the first trans woman to ever take part in the beauty pageant in its near 70-year history.
Rayka Vieira, 26, from the Brazilian state of Goias, took part in Miss Brazil 2021 where she competed to become the most beautiful woman in the South American country on Thursday (19th August).
Despite not making the final cut of 25, Vieira made history by becoming the first trans woman to participate in the show and she won the Miss Personality award.
Vieira, who received a huge round of applause when she entered the stage, told local media before the competition: “I thought it was impossible, but today I’m here. And I don’t want to be the only one.”
The model revealed that she dreamed of entering Miss Brazil ever since she was 18, and added: “I’m the first, but I would like to see several other [trans women] take part in the next few years. And I want these terms such as ‘the first trans woman’ or ‘the second trans woman’ to be completely removed.”
Being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community has made her stronger despite the fact that it took her a while to accept herself as, according to her, “opportunities are rare for the LGBTQIA+ community”.
In spite of all the hardship and negative comments she received over the years, and especially when she announced her candidacy for the show, she said: “Today I can say that I am very happy to live this dream.”
She said she would like to continue her ongoing social project ‘Orgulho Pelo Bem’ where her team helps “young people from the [LGBTQIA+] community who need an opportunity and are interested in becoming a professional in some way”.
According to her, the main objective of the action is to aid transsexual women like herself in their preferred areas of expertise.
The Miss Brazil competition started in 1954.
This year’s event, which suffered several postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was held at 6.30pm at the Brasilia Palace hotel located in the capital Brasilia on Thursday.
The crown was taken by Caroline Teixeira, 23, who will now represent her country at the Miss World contest scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico at the end of 2021.
