Beauty queens who came out publicly (VIDEO)

• Beauty queens who came out.
• It’s no longer taboo for LGBTQ women to compete in beauty pageants.
• Now they are advocating for those who were once silenced.

These beauty queens decided to be open about their private lives and their sexual orientation. In doing so, many of them risked their crowns, and even their lives.

Still, this did not stop them from coming out and delivering their messages. These are the most famous LGBTQ beauty queens in recent history.

Risking her freedom, Swe Zin Htet, a model from Myanmar, publicly declared she is gay.

This happened just hours after arriving in Atlanta, Georgia to represent her country in the 2019 Miss Universe pageant.

Beauty queens who came out: From Myanmar to Bhutan

In Myanmar, homosexuality is illegal, and it is punishable by sentences ranging from ten years to life in prison.

Swe Zin Htet overcame her fear and firmly stood her ground, but she wasn’t the only one. In 2015, model Tashi Choden took to Facebook to openly declare she is bisexual.

She is considered the first public figure in Bhutan to go public with her sexual orientation.

Until February 2021, her country’s penal code described homosexuality as involving «sexual behavior against the laws of nature» and, therefore, it was illegal in the Buddhist country.

Patricia Yurena posted a photo with her partner

Patricia Yurena publicly revealed that she dates women by posting a picture with her partner.

Yurema was the winner of the Miss Spain pageant on two occasions and the second runner-up in Miss Universe 2013.

Yurema’s message spread rapidly in 2014 and had an impact both in her home country and abroad.

After her public disclosure, she received numerous job offers, turning her greatest fear into strength.

A beauty queen who came out on TV

In a television interview, Maria Walsh, Miss Ireland 2014, addressed her sexual orientation.

«To me, being gay is normal; it’s natural. I told my parents, and they supported me, as it should be.»

After a personal struggle, Djuan Trent, Miss Kentucky 2010, announced on her blog in 2014 that she was gay.

She later clarified that she identifies as queer.

Marigona Dragusha posted a photo with her girlfriend

With her beauty and regal demeanor, Marigona Dragusha, representing Kosovo, was one of the favorites in the 2009 Miss Universe pageant.

She became the third runner-up in the competition and came out through social media, two years after the beauty pageant.

She simply posted a photograph with her girlfriend.

We are in a pivotal moment in history — the participation of LGBTQ women in beauty pageants is no longer a taboo. Now, they are raising their voices and advocating for the rights of those who were once silenced.