Beauty pageants, political divisions and transgressionsBy ANTONIO CONTRERASMISS Philippines Catriona Gray literally ran off with the top prize in the recently concluded Miss Universe 2018 beauty pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand. Actually, if there is one thing that is politically salient that should be the object of a healthy discussion, it should be the manner in which the Miss Universe beauty pageant has evolved. Many people insist that beauty pageants such as the Miss Universe contest should only allow “natural” women or those born as “female.”As it appears, the organizers of the Miss Universe contest opted to break the glass ceiling of transgender politics. The Miss Universe contest holds a US franchise, and under US laws, transwomen are legally considered as women. But this is a much welcome division because of its contribution to the evolution of gender politics.

Source: Manila Times December 19, 2018 18:11 UTC