Just in:Trailblazer Alert: Meet the First Trans Contestant in Miss Maine USA History

Just in:Trailblazer Alert: Meet the First Trans Contestant in Miss Maine USA History

A transgender woman from Monson will compete in the Miss Maine USA pageant next month, marking the first time an openly transgender woman will vie for the title.

Isabelle St. Cyr, 24, will compete in her first pageant next month at Miss Maine USA in Portland.

Originally from Howland, St. Cyr said she loved watching the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants and dreamed of competing one day. Now, she feels comfortable and confident enough with her transition to sign up.

The Miss Maine USA pageant welcoming its first ever transgender contestant will come at a time when President Donald Trump is demanding schools nationwide ban transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports and punishing states like Maine that continue allowing it. Most recently, the Trump administration began the process of ending all federal funding for Maine’s K-12 schools. mothers to compete, according to Clemente. The competition also welcomes women of all sizes and those with tattoos and piercings.

“I think there’s a lack of education surrounding the pageant and how welcoming they truly are now,” St. Cyr said. “They’ve opened up and changed the organization for the better, which is why I feel so proud to be with this organization rather than some others that maybe aren’t so open and welcoming to all women.”

The pageant takes place over two days and consists of three categories: swimwear/activewear, gown and interview. The interview portion of the competition makes up 50 percent of each contestant’s score while swimwear/activewear and gown are 25 percent each.

On May 10, the contestants will compete in each category. Then, on May 11, the judges will announce the finalists who then go through a question and answer portion to determine a winner, St. Cyr said.

Aside from winning the title of Miss Maine USA, St. Cyr said she hopes to show those who may be closeminded that transgender women “deserve to compete and be included just like every other woman.”

“I am trans but I am also just like everyone else,” St. Cyr said. “I grew up in a small town in Maine and I think that more people, if they gave me the chance, would realize that we have very similar experiences.”