A 28-year-old biological male who goes by the name Marina Machete has won the much-coveted crown as Miss Portugal. .The win comes after Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, also a biological male, bought the rights to the Miss Universe and affiliated pageants in 2022 and changed the rules to allow biological males to enter. .In July, 22-year-old biological male Rikkie Valerie Kolle was named Miss Netherlands, beating nine biological females in the process. .Machete, who became the first biological male in the country to win the prestigious title formerly reserved for women, celebrated the feat and lamented on Instagram for “several years” the 28-year-old flight attendant “was unable to participate” in such pageants. .“Proud to be the first trans woman to compete for the title of Miss Universe Portugal,” Machete wrote in the caption of an Instagram post. “For several years I was unable to participate and today I am proud to be part of this incredible group of finalists.”.Machete will now go on to represent Portugal in El Salvador at the Miss Universe pageant November 18, along with fellow biological male, Kolle. .“It’s unreal but I get to call myself (Miss Netherlands) 2023, making my community proud and showing it can be done,” Kolle wrote on Instagram. .“Look at me now, standing here as a strong, empowering and confident trans woman.”.Jakrajutatip previously explained the reasons for the change of rules. .“I became a billionaire at age 38, a woman at 39 and a mother of two at 40,” Jakrajutatip said. "I believe in the power of women to transform into the best versions of themselves.” .Not everyone is behind the notion of allowing biological males to compete against biological females in a beauty pageant. .Portuguese Member of Parliament Rui Paulo Sousa protested Machete’s win in the Miss Portugal pageant on Facebook. .“Reading this news, at first I thought it was a prank... but no ... it is very true ... A 'Transgender' was crowned Miss Portugal,” he wrote. .“Definitely a sad day for those young women who dreamt of one day being a (winner) in a women's beauty pageant!.Italy has taken a full stance against the new rules, with the country banning transgender contestants from entering the competition after the Miss Netherlands win. ."Lately, beauty contests have been trying to make the news by also using strategies that I think are a bit absurd,” Patrizia Mirigliani, Miss Italy official, said. .“Miss Italia, on the other hand, will not jump on the glittery bandwagon of trans activism.”
