Latina Pride: Daniela Arroyo González Becomes the First Puerto Rican Trans Woman to Compete in the Miss Universe Pageant

Latina Pride: Daniela Arroyo González Becomes the First Puerto Rican Trans Woman to Compete in the Miss Universe Pageant belatina
Credit: Instagram/@danielaarroyopr

Daniela Arroyo González is yet to be a household name, but she will very soon as she is making history.  

Arroyo González is becoming the first openly out trans woman to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. Puerto Rico’s official Miss Universe account recently made the announcement.  

“Graduated as a Public Relations professional, she wants to create positive changes within communications,” the contest’s Instagram post stated in Spanish.  

“She longs to live in a less polarized society, where differences can be appreciated and embraced as something positive that unites instead of something that separates.” 

“Following my intuition with great security, this is a start. I trust my heart and what the universe has written for me,” Arroyo González expressed on her social media.  

“I have felt your support and I know that your excitement is just as strong as mine. I thank you all for the unconditional love,” she added. 

Miss Universe has allowed transgendered women to make part of the event since 2012. However, it wasn’t until Ángela Ponce’s participation in 2018 that marked the first trans woman to ever participate in the popular pageant.  

What else has Daniela Arroyo González done?

According to Primera Hora, this marks Arroyo González’s second time participating in the contest. Aside from that, she’s become an avid activist. She’s solidified her activism by co-founding the Puerto Rico Trans Youth Coalition. This community-based organization seeks to create local support networks for trans, intersex, and gender non-binary youth in Puerto Rico.  

Daniela Arroyo González will be competing against 77 other candidates. The crown is currently held by Ashley Ann Cariño Barreto, who represented the Isla del Encanto last January in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Sadly, there are polarized comments regarding this announcement. Though this is expected behavior from the Latine community (which is unacceptable), she deserves to be welcomed with plenty of love and acceptance. She’s certainly a remarkable woman.  

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