The organization of the Miss Panama contest has announced that it will open from the 2021 edition to “legally recognized women in the country”, which “opens the door to transgender women”.
Officials of the contest, which designates the representative of Panama for the organization Miss Universe, explained that the decision was taken “after extensive consultation and according to the rules of the organization Miss Universe”.
Among its requirements, the Miss Universe contest establishes that “in each national event, women legally recognized in the country or franchise territory may participate”.
César Anel Rodriguez, president of the organization Miss Panama, told AFP on Tuesday that it is a question of complying with this openness made to transgender women for several years by the international entity.
He cited a 2018 press publication reporting that in Panama, at least 10 transgender women have been recognized by civil status.
So far, no transgender contestant has entered the competition, officials said.
In 2018, Spain’s Angela Ponce was the first transgender woman to become Miss Universe.