The transgender woman who was crowned Miss Maryland expressed her joy at the celebration, which celebrates women “regardless of gender.”
Transgender contestant Bailee Ann Kennedy was crowned Miss Maryland USA last Saturday. According to the official Miss Maryland account: post According to Instagram, Kennedy’s win marked several firsts: the first transgender contestant, the first Asian American contestant, the first contestant to win at age 31, the first married contestant, and the first military spouse to win a state-level competition in 67 years.
In an interview shared in the same post, Kennedy said her win on the first day of Pride Month “symbolizes it all,” and that the Miss Universe Organization “now celebrates womanhood universally, regardless of age, gender or marital status.”
At least two more transgender contestants to compete in Miss Universe pageant, following winners from Netherlands and Portugal
A transgender contestant achieved multiple firsts at the Miss Maryland 2024 pageant. (YouTube screenshot)
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“As a military spouse and a proud transgender woman, I want to showcase this in a positive way, and as an immigrant myself, I want to show people the perseverance of immigrants and inspire others in the process,” Kennedy added.
When speaking DC News NowKennedy said the moment of victory was “a whirlwind because I knew it was bigger than me, Cory. I think it means a lot to LGBT kids out there who, like me, may have felt different and felt like they didn’t fit into a box. So I hope my win is a beautiful invitation for them to be themselves.”
In an interview, Kennedy said her next big step would be to compete in the Miss USA pageant.
The Miss Maryland 2024 spoke to DC News Now about winning the pageant. (DC News Now Screenshot)
Kennedy’s website: The model explained how she ended up entering the contest.
“The moment I married an active duty Marine, I knew my life would change forever. I accepted the fact that his commitment to country would always come first and my career ambitions second,” Kennedy wrote. “When I turned 30, the Miss Universe Organization did away with traditional marital status and age restrictions. I knew that was a sign that the universe was ready to crown an older military spouse like me.”
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