| Miss Trans Global | |
| Founder: | Miss Sahhara, (since 2020) (Executive Producer/ President) |
| Type: | Beauty pageant |
| Headquarters: | London, England |
| Language: | English |
| Leader Title: | Current titleholder |
| Leader Name: | Piano Sarocha Akaros of  Thailand |
| Affiliations: | TransValid, TransBeauty Magazine |
| Location: | United Kingdom |
Miss Trans Global is an annual international pageant for transgender women.[1] [2] [3] [4] The event broadcasts live on multiple social networking websites from London, England. It has gained traction for transgender advocacy, raising awareness about queer culture and LGBT concerns, particularly in countries where transphobia and homophobia are prevalent.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] The pageant presents itself as a safe space for transgender women to share their experiences through speeches, talent shows, and art.[10] [11] [12]
Mela Habijan of the Philippines won the first edition of Miss Trans Global in an event held virtually on September 12, 2020.[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] Sruthy Sithara of India won the second edition where she was the first Indian transgender woman to win an international transgender pageant.[19] The current winner is Piano Sarocha Akaros of Thailand, who was crowned on Saturday, November 4, 2023, in London, United Kingdom.[20] [21]
The pageant was founded by Miss Sahhara, a transgender activist, and beauty queen who was behind Queen of Nations, another pageant for transgender women which has been held in the United Kingdom for the past 13 years.[22] According to Sahhara, she and her team thought of holding the 10th edition of Queen of Nations in 2017 online. Instead, they decided to launch a new title which is mainly geared towards transgender advocacy, education, and trans-empowerment through multiple digital platforms. They aimed to create an inclusive and accessible space for all transgender women from diverse backgrounds to express themselves on an international stage without leaving their homes or country.[23] [24]
According to Miss Sahhara, "Miss Trans Global was conceived in 2017 but realized during isolation in 2020. Our communities around the world are often either stuck at home with transphobic family members or homeless due to family rejection. Many of us are misunderstood at home and marginalized in society. Also, we have limited earning opportunities. So, we decided to help address some of these issues by engaging our online global community through the Miss Trans Global Digital Pageant".
The organizing team includes Sally Adams, a media and entertainment lawyer, Rica Paras, an information technology professional, and Imanni Da Silva, a model, artist, television presenter, and social activist.
In 2019, transgender pageant winner Anita Green[25] [26] filed a suit against Miss United States LLC on the grounds of gender identity discrimination. Green entered a franchise of Miss United States after participating in Miss Earth United States,[27] but was refused entry because of the competition rule which states that only a
The court filing submitted by Miss United States constantly misgendered Green and used derogatory words to invalidate the complainant's gender identity.[31] [32] Miss United States also says that allowing transgender women to compete in their competition would "undermine its vision" and would undermine their "message of biological female empowerment." John T. Kaempf, the Miss United States pageant's lawyer praised the dismissal of Green's lawsuit, stating that the pageant "is not anti-transgender." "Miss United States wants to be able to hold a pageant that is only for biological females,". He stated that the organization "believes there can be a Miss Black USA pageant, a Miss Native American pageant, or a transgender pageant."[33]
In an interview with KGW, Green said, "I compete in pageantry to show that there are many different types of beauty... To me, that rule was saying that transgender women aren't women, and that sends a very harmful message."[34] [35]
Unperturbed by the news of the dismissal of her case, Green said “she is not giving up on her fight for justice for transgender women, and she is very proud of her achievement in raising awareness about the discrimination transgender women face in pageantry”. "This case brought awareness to an issue many people were and still are unaware of," Green told Oregon Live, "and that issue is that discrimination against transgender people is still actively happening in the private and public sector even within the pageant circuit."[36] [37]
Some transgender activists have affirmed that the exclusion of transgender women from female-only spaces such as sports, pageants, and bathrooms has necessitated the creation of dedicated spaces for transgender people.[38] [39] Others argue that it may foster segregation.
Sociologist and feminist campaigner Finn Mackay stated in an interview with The Guardian, that reducing womanhood to fertility and genitals trivialises the damage done by patriarchy influenced by politics when it comes to sexuality and gender. "They do it for ideological reasons, as part of a campaign for trans exclusion. When people turn round and say: 'This is a dog whistle' – of course it is! Otherwise, why would you be chatting about people's genitals?" Mackay asked.[40]
Miss USA, a franchise of Miss Universe, started allowing transgender women in their pageant in 2012. The pageant's first transgender state representative was Kataluna Enriquez, winner of Miss Nevada USA. Enriquez served as a judge in the first edition of Miss Trans Global.[41] [42] [43]
The main premise of Miss Trans Global is to "revolutionize pageantry" by including transgender women in mainstream beauty pageantry, and to raise awareness for trans issues. Many of the contestants are also transgender rights activists.[44] [45] [46] Their advocacies are heavily influenced by transphobic violence, including domestic violence, discrimination, and the murders of transgender women globally. An associate of the Miss Trans Global's team, Yunieski Carey Herrera, was murdered by her partner on November 17, 2020, in Miami, Florida.[47] [48] [49] [50] [51] She was crowned Miss Trans Global in 2019.
According to the organisation, the top 5 winners of Miss Trans Global work as spokespersons on transgender and LGBT issues worldwide. They claim to work closely with activist organisations such as TransValid, TransBeauty Magazine,[52] [53] TransGriot,[54] to educate cisgender people and inspire transgender people globally. The organisation started an initiative called
The organizers said that Miss Trans Global "is not about a beautiful face and perfect body" but rather "about activism, charity, and intelligence".[57]
The pageant says the winners will serve as spokespeople "and work digitally to influence positive changes in our community internationally."[58]
The pageant considers itself as a digital and physical space for transgender women from different backgrounds who are driven through activism to highlight the plight of LGBT people in their various countries. The participants share their lived experiences through the use of digital content production and publishing through the guidance of the organisation.[59] [60] [61] [62]
The organizers of the competition described it as "the future of international trans pageantry", because of its accessibility and ease of participation. The contestants execute the various tasks at home and submit videos to the judges. The winners are selected based on the scores given by the judges.
Contestants are given a creative challenge once a week. They film and produce a submission video in accordance with the rules and guidelines stipulated by the pageant directors. The judges then review their performances and score the contestants accordingly.
The judges are seasoned female transgender activists and pageant queens who have fought for transgender rights in their various countries.[63]
Miss Trans Global and its runner-up awards are the adaption of the female British nobility titles, namely:
The organisation's definition of a queen is a transgender woman who uses their voice for the voiceless and someone who marries the ambition of helping marginalised transgender community that are often discriminated against due to misconceptions.
The inaugural competition, which took place on September 12, 2020, focused on transgender people suffering in isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It included participants from countries around the world. Miss Mela Franco Habijan from the Philippines became the first ever winner of the competition, in a coronation ceremony streamed live on YouTube and Facebook.
The pageant's inaugural judges were:
| Edition | Country | Titleholder | National Title | Venue of Competition | Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Thailand | Sarocha Akaros [66] | Miss LGBT Thailand | Rhoda McGaw Theatre, London, United Kingdom | 10 |
| 2022 |  Brazil | Natasha Cardoso | Miss Trans Global Brasil | Virtual event, London, United Kingdom | 6 |
| 2021 |  India | Sruthy Sithara | Miss Trans Global India | 16 | |
| 2020 |  Philippines | Mela Franco Habijan | Miss Trans Global Philippines | 18 |
| Year | Runners-Up | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Princess Global | Second Princess Global | ||||||
| 2023 | Kevhoney Scarlett | Vivienne Melanie Mesias | Diana Dee Barrera | Chedino Rodriguez Martin | |||
| 2022 | Abi Dela Paz Orencia Sytanco | Trisha Jose | Virgen Mariana Cortes | Rojean Buhian | |||
| Year | Runners-Up | ||||||
| First Princess Global | Second Princess Global | ||||||
| 2021 | Albiean Revalde | Viviana Santibanez | Fazelyn Ja'afar | Karla Michelle-Delprado | Amanda Sandova | Lesly Quispe | |
| 2020 | Rebeckah Loveday | Veso Golden | Semakaleng Mothapo | Danielly Drugge | Not awarded | ||
| Placement | Contestant | |
|---|---|---|
| Miss Trans Global 2023 | – Sarocha Akaros | |
| Miss Trans Global Diamond | – Kevhoney Scarlett | |
| Miss Trans Global Sapphire | – Vivienne Melanie Mesias | |
| Top 5 | – Diana Dee Barrera – Chedino Rodriguez Martin | |
| Continental Queens | ||
| Miss Trans Global Americas | – Diana Dee Barrera | |
| Miss Trans Global Africa | – Chedino Rodriguez Martin | |
| Special Awards | ||
| Queen of Hearts | – Eva Dee Jesus | |
| Queen of The Ball | – Lucila Thompson | |
| Gifted Idol of The Year | – Alexandra Etim | |
| Catwalk Queen of The Year | – Hardy Jat | |
| Activist Queen of The Year | – Chedino Rodriguez Martin | |
| Glam Beauty of The Year | – Vivienne Melanie Mesias | |
| Eloquent Queen of The Year | – Sarocha Akaros | |
| Stylish Queen of the Year | – Kevhoney Scarlett | |
| Best National Costume | – Rica Gandara | |
| Popular Goddess of the Year | – Diana Dee Barrera | |
| Placement | Contestant | |
|---|---|---|
| Miss Trans Global 2022 | Brazil – Natasha Cardoso | |
| Miss Trans Global Diamond | – Abi Dela Paz Orencia Sytanco | |
| Miss Trans Global Sapphire | – Trisha Jose | |
| First Princess Global | – Virgen Mariana Cortes | |
| Second Princess Global | – Rojean Buhian | |
| Third Princess Global | – Amanda Kamanda | |
| Special Awards | ||
| Popular Goddess of the Year | – Abi Dela Paz Orencia Sytanco | |
| Best National Costume | – Trisha Jose | |
| Stylish Queen of the Year | – Abi Dela Paz Orencia Sytanco | |
| Eloquent Queen of The Year | – Virgen Mariana Cortes | |
| Glam Beauty of The Year | – Rojean Buhian | |
| Inspirational Queen of The Year | – Amanda Kamanda | |
| Super Model of The Year | Brazil – Natasha Cardoso | |
| Time Keeper of The Year | – Trisha Jose | |
| Queen of Hearts - (Chosen by participants) | – Abi Dela Paz Orencia Sytanco | |
| Monica Roberts Warrior National Director of The Year | – Yanyan Araña | |
| Placement | Contestant | |
|---|---|---|
| Miss Trans Global 2021 | India – Sruthy Sithara | |
| Duchess Global | Philippines – Albiean Revalde | |
| Marchioness Global | – Viviana Santibanez | |
| Countess Global |  Malaysia – Fazelyn Jaafar | |
| Baroness Global |  Mauritius – Karla Michelle-Delprado | |
| 1st Princess Global | – Amanda Sandova | |
| 2nd Princess Global |  Peru – Lesly Quispe | |
| Top 9 |  Ghana – Charlene MacCarthy-Crabbe United Kingdom – Vera Nicholle Joren | |
| Top 13 | – Monica Sarkisyan Australia – Addison Joy Harper Japan – Bianca Sumi Mexico – Lorena Barajas | |
| Continental Queens | ||
| Miss Trans Global Asia-Pacific | – Amanda Sandova | |
| Miss Trans Global Americas | Peru – Lesly Quispe | |
| Miss Trans Global Europe | United Kingdom – Vera Nicholle Joren | |
| Miss Trans Global Africa | Ghana – Charlene MacCarthy-Crabbe | |
| Special Awards | ||
| Popular Goddess Of The Year | Mauritius – Karla Michelle-Delprado | |
| Activist Queen Of The Year | – Viviana Santibanez Malaysia – Fazelyn Jaafar Peru – Lesly Quispe Philippines – Albiean Revalde | |
| Best National Costume | Philippines – Albiean Revalde | |
| Stylish Queen of the Year | Peru – Lesly Quispe | |
| Eloquent Queen of The Year | India – Sruthy Sithara Philippines – Albiean Revalde | |
| Inspirational Queen of The Year | – Viviana Santibanez Japan – Bianca Sumi United Kingdom – Vera Nicholle Joren | |
| Gifted Idol of The Year | Ghana – Charlene MacCarthy-Crabbe Mexico – Lorena Barajas | |
| Super Model of The Year | Mexico – Lorena Barajas | |
| Glam Beauty of The Year |  Armenia – Monica Sarkisyan | |
| Time Keeper of The Year | – Viviana Santibanez | |
| Queen of Hearts 2021 - (Chosen by participants) | – Amanda Sandova | |
| Best National Crowning Moment of The Year | – Amanda Sandova | |
| Monica Roberts Warrior National Director of The Year | – Janlee Dungca | |
| Remainder | ||
| Brazil | Mirelly Rocha | |
 Nigeria | Adanna Electra-Joels | |
 Romania | Ariela Stanciu | |
| Placement | Contestant | |
|---|---|---|
| Miss Trans Global 2020 | Philippines – Mela Franco Habijan | |
| Duchess Global | Australia – Rebeckah Loveday | |
| Marchioness Global | Ghana – Veso Golden | |
| Countess Global | – Semakaleng Sma Mothapo | |
| Baroness Global |  Sweden – Danielly Drugge | |
| Top 10 | Philippines – Maria Nigeria – Diva Canada – Thalia United States – Kamilla Philippines – Niña | |
| Top 15 | Australia – Amy United States – Alhya India – Victoria Philippines – Aloha Philippines – Nikki | |
| Remainder | ||
| Australia | Hunny | |
| Nigeria | Jasmine | |
 Uruguay | Renata | |