Winwyn Marquez shared that after educating herself on the LGBTQ+ community, she has changed her stance on allowing transgender women to join Miss Universe, stressing “They’re women, they’re proud women.”
In a podcast interview with showbiz reporter Nelson Canlas, the two tackled her life now as a mom and the controversial changes in the Miss Universe pageant, including the lifting of age restrictions and allowing transgender women to join the prestigious pageant.
The 2017 Reina Hispanoamericana queen was asked what her stance is on the latter issue, to which she responded that she’s now in favor, noting that it’s a way to show inclusivity.
She first traced back to her contrasting statement in 2018, admitting that it was wrong.
“Alam mo because before I said parang hindi ako okay doon,” she began. “Pero now kasi I think I have to admit to what I said na mali din ‘yon kasi I wasn’t really sure pa sa mga nangyayari, hindi ko pinag-aralan ang lahat ng nangyayari,” she explained.
In case you didn’t know, Winwyn was asked the same question in 2018 when the MU organization allowed trans woman Angela Ponce of Spain to join the pageant. At that time, she previously said that although she supports the beauty queen and the community, there should be a separate competition for them.
“I think, parang let’s just give it to natural-born women, and for transgenders to have their own prestigious pageant. It’s tradition for Miss Universe,” she previously said.
“Pero kung ia-allow naman ng Miss Universe Organization, then we should accept it also, walang problema,” she added.
Winwyn explained how her stance changed when she educated herself about the LGBTQ+ community in her recent interview.
“When I educated myself sa lahat na LGBTQIA plus everything, actually I’m okay with it now,” she told Nelson.
“I’m really okay with it, you know inclusivity and everything. They’re women e, they’re proud women and they’re given that chance to join then why not, ‘di ba?” the 31-year-old celebrity mom added.
Miss Universe organization has been breaking barriers for its changes since 2018. Apart from Angela, they also have candidates who are vocal about being part of the LGBTQ+ community, like Miss Universe Myanmar 2019 Zin Htet who came out as lesbian and our very own Michelle Dee who announced that she’s bisexual.
In 2022, the organization has also opened its doors to aspiring beauty queens who are mothers, married, and divorcees.
