This weekend, a bold new chapter in the evolution of pageantry will unfold beneath the shimmering lights of Las Vegas. On Sunday, December 8, the inaugural Miss International Queen USA pageant — the first-ever all-transgender beauty competition of its kind in the United States — will begin welcoming 26 extraordinary contestants from across the country. Together, they will celebrate their journeys, showcase their cultural heritages, and compete for the opportunity of a lifetime: a $10,000 cash prize and the chance to represent the United States at the 2025 Miss International Queen competition in Thailand.
The event is historic, not only for the contestants themselves, but for countless transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals in the U.S. who have long yearned for a platform that authentically centers their identities, successes, and resilience. With its star-studded schedule running December 10 through December 12, the Miss International Queen USA pageant signals a new era of inclusion — one where trans women are no longer relegated to the margins, but are instead uplifted as cultural icons, community leaders, and visionary ambassadors of change.
A Life’s Work on the Stage
For 35-year-old contestant Khloe Rios-Wyatt, stepping onto the Miss International Queen USA stage is the culmination of decades of personal growth and hard-fought activism. A transgender Latina, Rios-Wyatt emigrated from Mexico to the United States 20 years ago, carving out a life in Southern California as she navigated the challenges of living as both a transgender woman and, for many years, an undocumented immigrant. She is the co-founder and CEO of Alianza Translatinx, a Santa Ana-based nonprofit founded in 2020, initially to distribute food to transgender Latinx people during the height of the pandemic. Today, Alianza Translatinx has grown into a robust support network providing housing assistance, mental health services, emergency relief, and a welcoming community space in Orange County.
“This pageant platform is more than just beauty,” says Rios-Wyatt, who will be competing in a U.S. pageant for the very first time. “It’s about empowering community members and creating visibility for the trans community. It’s also a vibrant part of LGBTQ+ culture, and my participation embodies how far we’ve come. I want to show the world that trans women are leaders, we are innovators, and we are ready to take our rightful place in the spotlight.”
Rios-Wyatt’s hope is that her time on the Miss International Queen USA stage will not only boost the profile of Alianza Translatinx, but will also help counteract what she and many activists see as mounting anti-trans sentiment in the political arena. With the specter of President-elect Donald Trump and his promise to curtail transgender rights looming, Rios-Wyatt believes the pageant’s 2024 theme, “The Future Starts Now,” is more timely than ever.
“We’re in a moment where trans existence is again under threat,” she says. “The Miss International Queen USA pageant is a chance for us to stand tall and refuse to be erased. By elevating trans voices and celebrating trans excellence, we’re shining a bright light in the face of bigotry. We are part of the future, and that future starts here, on this stage, with all of us standing together.”
Building Trans Visibility and Representation
Historically, mainstream pageants like Miss Universe have excluded trans women. But in recent years, a trickle of progress has emerged. In 2018, Miss Universe welcomed its first openly transgender contestant internationally, and in 2023, the U.S. followed suit. This signaled, at least symbolically, that trans contestants could find a foothold in global pageantry. Even so, trans competitors often face sharp backlash from conservative critics who argue that pageantry should remain reserved for cisgender women. Many pageant traditionalists still resist these inclusive efforts, leaving trans competitors feeling as if they must constantly justify their presence.
Meanwhile, Miss International Queen, an international pageant dedicated solely to trans women, has been blazing its own trail since 2004. Held annually in Thailand, it celebrates trans beauty, talent, and advocacy with the explicit mission of promoting acceptance and raising awareness of global transgender rights issues. Until now, the U.S. did not have a dedicated preliminary competition to send a representative to Miss International Queen. That changes this week in Las Vegas, where the 26 contestants — each with their unique stories and cultural backgrounds — will compete in evening gowns, state-themed costumes, and talent presentations.
More Than a Crown: A Platform for Change
Todd Montgomery, the national director of Miss International Queen USA, emphasizes that the pageant aims not only to celebrate beauty and talent, but also to fundraise for meaningful social change. All proceeds from this inaugural event will go toward the Be the Transformational Change Fund (BTCF), an LGBTQ+ nonprofit that works to dismantle structural barriers for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals. By supporting employment access, affordable housing, and education initiatives, BTCF strives to cultivate a future where trans people can thrive. The Miss International Queen USA pageant, Montgomery says, is about helping contestants “write their own destinies, and ensuring that the next generation of trans people inherit a world more accepting than the last.”
For Alianza Translatinx, which Rios-Wyatt leads, the pageant offers a chance to rally more support for its mission. As the only trans-led nonprofit focused specifically on assisting trans communities in Santa Ana and Orange County, Alianza Translatinx’s work is multifaceted: providing life-saving resources, forging alliances with other nonprofits, and creating a safe haven where community members can discover a sense of belonging.
“For me, competing is not about personal glory,” Rios-Wyatt explains. “It’s about shining a spotlight on the urgent needs of trans people in our communities, especially those who are immigrants, undocumented, or living in fear. If I can use the pageant stage to bring attention to their struggles, then I’ve already won.”
Representation Across Identities and Borders
While Rios-Wyatt represents the Latinx community, other contestants bring their own layered identities to the Miss International Queen USA pageant. Bella Snow, who lives in Los Angeles’ Koreatown neighborhood, wants to show the world what’s possible for trans Vietnamese immigrants. At 35, Snow’s transition came relatively late in life, and she grew up without seeing anyone who mirrored her identity in media or public life.
“Growing up, I didn’t know who I was because I had no representation,” Snow says. “It wasn’t until these last five or six years that I started seeing trans people on TV, in magazines, and in politics. I remember thinking, ‘I wish I had this kind of representation when I was younger.’”
Snow’s personal experiences have fueled her desire to give back. She wants to be the role model she never had, especially for those still living in Vietnam, where legal protections for trans people are scarce. “Because I live in the U.S., I could change my name, my gender marker, and get married,” Snow says. “But in Vietnam, equality is almost non-existent. I want to return home someday and be a beacon of hope, to let other trans women know that they can dream bigger, that the world can open up for them too.”
A Legacy of Trailblazers
The Miss International Queen USA 2024 competition also holds special significance because it will be led by reigning titleholder Kataluna Enriquez, an accomplished trailblazer in her own right. In 2021, Enriquez made history as the first openly transgender woman to win the title of Miss Nevada USA and compete in Miss USA. Recently, she represented the U.S. at the Miss International Queen competition in Thailand, where she placed in the Top Six and won the Best Talent award.
Enriquez’s journey has inspired countless transgender individuals around the globe. At this year’s event, she’ll be passing her crown to a new titleholder, someone who will continue her legacy of courage, authenticity, and community advocacy. Reflecting on her year as Miss International Queen USA, Enriquez says: “It offered me the chance to connect with people all over the country, to share my story and advocate for mental health. The ability to communicate with people and touch their lives, even when facing my own challenges with language barriers and cultural differences, has been transformative.”
Enriquez also has her sights set on broadening her platform. With aspirations to compete on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and become the first Filipino American to win it, she is determined to show that pageantry and performance art can intersect, creating new forms of representation and self-expression. “Drag has been extremely influential in my journey,” she explains. “It taught me to express myself fearlessly. Now, I want to share the stories I’ve held back, the ones I had to hide just to survive.”
Embodying the Future
As the contestants step onto the stage in Las Vegas, they will do so not just as individuals vying for a crown, but as cultural ambassadors, community advocates, and symbols of a brighter future. The Miss International Queen USA pageant presents an opportunity to redefine what pageantry can mean in the 21st century. By bringing trans women’s stories, struggles, and successes to the forefront, the competition challenges outdated norms and invites audiences to embrace a broader concept of beauty — one rooted in resilience, diversity, and authenticity.
For transgender individuals and their allies, the inaugural Miss International Queen USA pageant represents a moment of arrival and affirmation. It stands as living proof that trans women belong not only in the room, but in the spotlight. It proves that pageants, which once seemed worlds away, can now serve as platforms of liberation and hope. Most importantly, it shows that trans communities can harness the power of visibility to dismantle stereotypes, celebrate self-expression, and push forward into a future defined by possibility rather than fear.
“The Future Starts Now” is more than a theme; it’s a rallying cry. Amid political climates that threaten to deny trans people their basic rights, this pageant insists that visibility is non-negotiable. It proclaims that the future cannot be shaped without acknowledging and uplifting the voices of the trans community. In the glow of pageant lights, beneath sequined gowns and sparkling crowns, one message rises above all: trans women are here, they are thriving, and their future is radiant.
