A transgender woman has won the Miss Portugal beauty pageant for the first time and will compete with another transgender woman for the title of Miss Universe in El Salvador. This was reported by the Portuguese media. Marina Machete, a 28-year-old flight attendant, received the title of Miss Portugal on Thursday in Borba in the southeastern Evora region.
“I couldn’t take part for years”
“Proud to be the first trans woman to compete for the title of Miss Universe for Portugal,” she wrote on social media before winning the title. “For years I wasn’t able to participate and today I’m proud to be part of this incredible group of finalists,” she added. In July, 22-year-old Dutchwoman Rikkie Kolle became the first transgender woman to win the title of Miss Netherlands. Machete and Kolle will succeed Spain’s Angela Ponce, who became the first transgender candidate for the Miss Universe title in 2018.