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A beauty pageant does not only give a stage for a woman to show off her beautiful face or appealing curves, but it also projects the intelligence, potentials, and empowerment that these young ladies hold. It is the real essence of displaying a woman’s intellectual and rational capabilities.

Through this competition, the candidates have had the chance to encourage other women, regardless of their age, to embrace the identity, traits, and character of being a woman. Yet in the history, this event follows specific requirements to fit in the so-called bubble of beauty standard.

Even so, have you ever wondered the real essence of a beauty pageant? Have these contests became a measurement of beauty in society’s standard or did they help in promoting women’s self-love and self-support?

Gatekept Wings: The beauty inside a bottle

In the early times of the pageant, it is common in this competition that there will be dazzling gowns and sparkling crowns, where the room is full of beautiful women gathered on the stage while introducing themselves with their name, age, and place they represent. They would then walk away normally with a banner and flowers.

Judges will score all the contestants based on their physique and cosmetic beautifying technique. And over the years, the competition inherited talent and interviews as portions of the competition but was still perceived as ‘beauty pageants’ up until the last couple of decades.

The competition bases its criteria on the outside beauty; thus, judges look to decide on winners based on their standout qualities.

Yet even with the almost perfect set of rules and standards, beauty pageants closed their doors by limiting women in terms of their age, sex, height, and civil status. They do not accept candidates who are not fit. They continued to gatekeep the wings of every potential beauty queen, and let their beauty be confined inside the bottle.

Embracing Kaleidoscope: Reshaping the modern beauty

Undeniably, the point of pageants shifted over time from exterior credentials to talent and intellect. They were able to adapt to the changes in modern society, such as being lenient to specific rules and guidelines.

Pageants evolved over time from their original purpose of showcasing the physical beauty of a woman. They started to look out for the different values from the candidates’ substantial answers and their beneficial advocacies.

The community has welcomed these long-overdue changes compatible with society’s evolution as everyone looks forward to continually evolving and improving ideals of inner instead of outer beauty. One’s character and personal success not only in pageants but in the world as a whole.

The competition also empowers the bigger picture by allowing transwomen to join the competition. One notable beauty queen is Ms. Angela Ponce, who won Miss Universe Spain 2018, gaining the entitlement of being the first transgender woman to compete in Miss Universe with full support and acceptance.

This circumstance truly shows that society is ready to embrace all butterflies flying with their colors, whether it is rainbow, black, or plain pink.

Besides, at the end of the day, women must remember that the new idea of beauty, the one that comes from within, is one that allows them to empower themselves and others.

What has really changed the most in the field was the emphasis on inner self-confidence and fostering empowerment to yourself. It becomes the key to winning, not only on stage but also in life.

Woman, also known as female, is defined as someone who is an adult female who has been born with female genitals. Notable women such as Melchora Aquino, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Risa Hontiveros, Leni Robredo, and many more have been an image of a strong and independent woman.

However, besides genitals, what makes a woman a woman? Regardless of sex, they are powerful, fierce, brave, compassionate, and strong-willed. A woman is someone who stands for themselves and fights for their rights. But what happens when a transgender woman experiences discrimination because she was not born with the female genitals or two X chromosomes. Women are women but why are transwomen experiencing discrimination?

Transwomen in our society

Transwomen can be defined as someone who was born with one X and Y chromosome and is biologically born and identified as male.

However, transwomen can also be defined as a woman because womanhood simply describes a female’s journey to become a full-grown woman at heart.

The discrimination against transwomen means discrimination to their rights as human beings.  They also have feelings, and they experienced many things to become who they are right now. The hardships they had to go through to experience true happiness when they did not deserve to be discriminated against in such ways possible.  

Modernity means accepting them all

In the past, transgendered women and the LGBTQIA+ were not accepted in our society as it is seen as immoral and unethical. A lot of people think that the only genders out there are the female and male, and any more than that is considered wrong.

However, in today’s time, things have changed. Transgenders and the LGTBQIA+ are now accepted in some parts of our country while some still experience discrimination, but a lot are now open to the topic of being trans.

Transwomen are not born with two X chromosomes, but they are now considered as women as they are a woman at heart, and they experience genuine happiness. They continuously fought to where they are right now and that proves that they are who they want themselves to be.

At the end of the day, there is no one at fault when transwomen show their real color. They deserve the admiration as they travel the bumpy roads to find and reach their true identity and happiness. They deserve a life filled with prosperity, love, and kindness.  

Even with individuals not accepting this concept, no one is given the right to discriminate against transwomen. This is where they learn and experience how to love themselves and others.