The final of the contest took place this morning, in El Salvador, in a historic edition for Portugal, which for the first time was represented by a trans woman.
The Portuguese Marina Machete was among the 20 best in the 72nd edition of Miss Universe, whose final was held this Saturday in El Salvador. The award went to the Nicaraguan candidate, Sheynnis Palacios, who obtained an unprecedented title for the country. The podium was completed by the representatives of Thailand, Anntonia Porsild, and Australia, Moraya Wilson, respectively.
Marina Machete, 28 years old, born in Setúbal, was in the group of 20 semifinalists in the competition. In the selection of the 10 competitors who reached the final, the Portuguese was left off the list.
The edition is historic for Portugal. Marina Machete became the first trans woman to represent Portugal in the world’s largest beauty pageant, which began allowing trans people to participate in 2012. In this year’s edition, two trans women competed: Marina and the Dutch Rikkie Valerie Kollé.
Miss Universe chosen this Saturday. Marina Machete paraded in a costume alluding to the Republic
“Proud to be the first trans woman to compete for the title of Miss Universe Portugal,” Marina wrote on social media last month, before making history as the first trans woman to win Miss Portugal, a national pageant that gives access to the International competition. . “For several years I was not able to participate and today I am proud to be part of this incredible group of finalists.”
If the achievement was celebrated by those who have long called for diversity in this type of competition, it was also harshly criticized by others. The topic acquired a national dimension when it was catapulted into the comments space of the Jornal Nacional, TVI. Live, commentator Miguel Sousa Tavares asked journalist José Alberto Carvalho if he would marry Marina Machete. The commentator maintained that Marina Machete “is not a woman,” but rather a succession of contributions from “plastic surgery” and “molecular medicine.” The moment would be shared massively on social networks. The journalist ended up publicly apologizing for the words he said. The commentator, responding to the controversy, says that he is “on the side of the majority.”
Source: Observadora
