The first trans Miss Universe contestant didn’t win the crown, but she won the internet

The 2018 Miss Universe pageant was held on Sunday evening, and although she didn’t win, 27-year-old Angela Ponce made history as its first transgender contestant.

Ponce has been working as a model for several years, also competing for, but not winning, the title of Miss Spain in 2015. After years of hard work and dealing with discrimination in the industry, Ponce finally made it to the international level this year.

“I’m competing because it’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl,” Ponce told Time before the pageant on Sunday. “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.”

Ponce has described the obstacles she faced as a trans model. She would get a job offer, and have it rescinded when the client learned she was transgender and competed in pageants she wasn’t allowed to win. “In 2015, I competed in another pageant, Miss World, in Spain, but I found out on the day of the competition that their rules didn’t allow a transgender woman to win,” Ponce said to Time. “I had to go on and perform, and it felt horrible. But after I got to the Miss Universe final, Miss World changed their rules too. I changed the rules.”

The internet loved that she was breaking barriers.

https://twitter.com/vinceabarra/status/1074485869120245760

https://twitter.com/rmsnramos/status/1074477500711878657

They dedicated a special segment for Angela Ponce to acknowledge her, and recognize her representation. She is a woman, and in the eyes of the universe, she will always be a woman.

I'm so emotional right now. You made your community proud, Miss Spain! #MissUniverse

— Ggggggg (@gianverona) December 17, 2018

You know what’s louder than the online bullying and violence hurled against Miss Spain, the first trans Miss Universe candidate?

It’s the earth-shattering noise created by the glass ceiling she broke. Others might get the crown & other prizes, but Miss Spain, she gets the sky.

— Jonas Bakla 🏳️‍🌈 (@jonasbagas) December 17, 2018

Until 2012, trans women weren’t allowed to compete in Miss Universe, and Ponce is the first to make it to the big stage since that ban was lifted. Before the competition on Sunday, she posted on Instagram in Spanish, “This is for you, for those who have no visibility, no voice, because we all deserve a world of respect, inclusion and freedom. And today I am here, proudly representing my nation, all women and human rights.”

View this post on Instagram

Que honor y orgullo poder ser parte de la historia de @missuniverse. Esto es por ustedes, por aquellos que no tienen visibilidad, ni voz, porque todos merecemos un mundo de respeto, inclusión y libertad. Y hoy estoy aquí, representando con orgullo a mi nación, a todas las mujeres y a los derechos humanos. • #missuniverse #missuniverso #confidentlybeautiful #thailand #bangkok #roadtomissuniverse #67thmissuniverse #angelaponce #spain #preliminar

A post shared by ANGELA PONCE (@angelaponceofficial) on Dec 14, 2018 at 5:27am PST

H/T Deadline