Meet Angela Ponce, Miss Universe’s First-Ever Transgender Aspirant

Meet Miss Spain, the first-ever transgender model in a Miss Universe pageant.

Angela Ponce is all set to represent Spain in the Miss Universe 2018 pageant, which will be held in Bangkok on 17 December. Ponce is the first-ever transgender model to ever participate in the Miss Universe pageant.

Her participation is particularly poignant as the contest was owned by Donald Trump until 2015, when he offloaded the business in the run-up to his run for president.

Speaking to TIME, the 27-year-old Spanish said:

I’m showing that trans women can be whatever they want to be: a teacher, a mother, a doctor, a politician and even Miss Universe.