The Miss Maryland USA beauty pageant recently crowned a transgender winner for the first time in its history. Transgender contestant Bailey Anne Kennedy walked away with the top prize this past week, where Kennedy will go on to compete in Los Angeles for Miss USA later this summer.
Aside from being Miss Maryland’s first transgender winner, Kennedy was also the first military officer’s spouse to receive the award as well. Kennedy told local news outlet WDCW that the experience has been a “whirlwind because I knew it was bigger than me.” Kennedy further explained, “I knew that it was going to mean a lot for all the LGBTQ kids out there who might feel like they don’t belong in a box—like me growing up.”
Kennedy explained in a recent social media post, “For the longest time, I never had the need to tell anyone. Not because it’s a secret but it’s none of anyone’s business. To those who matter to me, they don’t care. Those that care about knowing such private & personal details, don’t matter.”
The Miss Maryland winner added, “I can’t wait to start my reign and get back to The USO office and start serving lunches & personally thank our active duty service members like I originally plan to yesterday because that’s what actually matters to me.”
However, since Kennedy was crowned the winner of the Miss Maryland pageant, conservatives have railed against the decision, maintaining that the competition should be reserved exclusively for biological women.
Popular conservative account on X, Libs of TikTok, wrote, “Bailey Anne is a male who just won miss Maryland while pretending to be a woman. It’s hard to feel bad for the women when they just watch and clap… Women, stand up and speak out!! Do not let your spaces and titles be taken over by men!”
Furthermore, conservative activist Oli London shared on X, “MAN crowed Miss Maryland USA. Transgender male Bailey Anne has beaten dozens of women to win the prestigious women’s pageant title. Upon winning the title Anne declared: “Not everyone has to agree with the spaces that you occupy, and it doesn’t mean that you aren’t worthy of these opportunities.”
According to Miss Maryland USA, the pageant welcomed the idea of having a transgender participant compete and win in the competition typically designated for biological women. The organization noted that it has allowed transgender individuals in the organization for over a decade.
“Since 2012 trans women have been welcomed into our organization. Additionally, as of 2023 the organization invited all adult women of any age, marital and family status. As an organization, we fully support our Miss Maryland USA 2024, Bailey Anne,” a spokesperson told Newsweek on behalf of the pageant. “Every person has the right to live authentically and pursue every opportunity, and we believe Bailey Anne embodies these values. She is brave, resilient, and committed to her truth, all attributes that make her an excellent state representative.
The statement continued, “While change is always met with adversity, the support Bailey Anne and the Miss Maryland USA organization is receiving does not go unnoticed. We see Bailey’s win as a win for everyone who dreamed the impossible dream.” Watch Kennedy’s victory below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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