The Miss USA pageant, owned by the Miss Universe organization, has some big firsts this year. The winner of the Miss Maryland crown this week is a transgender — a man living his identity as a woman.
In the Miss National American Alabama pageant, the winner is so large, she would need at least two airline seats and a couple of seatbelt extenders.
Sarah Milliken, the supersized Miss Alabama, has suffered a lot of cyberbullying due to her enormous size, which sets her apart from other contestants in beauty pageants. The internet has been especially cruel since she won the title.
Bailey Anne Kennedy is the first transgender man to be crowned Miss Maryland USA. At 31, he is older than the average pageant queen and identifies as a “military wife.” She competed for Miss Maryland as Miss Williamsport (Md) USA.
As of 2023, women who are or have been married, as well as women who are pregnant or have children, are able to compete in the Miss Universe pageants at all levels. Competitors must represent that they are a female, as recognized medically and legally in the United States.)
The Miss Universe organization had its first transgender contestant, Miss Spain Ángela Ponce, in 2018. The owner of the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA is a transgender entrepreneur from Thailand who bought the pageant in 2022.
Miss Alaska USA 2024 is Fairbanks’ Brenna Schaake, who was crowned on June 1 and will represent Alaska at the Miss USA 2024 pageant in Hollywood, California the week of Aug. 4. Brenna has worked as an external affairs supervisor for Kinross Gold Corporation for three years, and is a member of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce.
