Miss Spain Is the
First-Ever Trans Woman to
Compete in Miss Universe Angela Ponce, a 27-year-old from Spain,
became the first transgender woman to
participate in the international competition. Angela Ponce, to the 'Today' show Angela Ponce, to the 'Today' show Prior to competing in the 67th Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, Ponce was crowned Miss Universe Spain. But she did not make it to the
final round of the Miss Universe competition. First place was awarded to
Catriona Gray from the Phillippines. Angela Ponce, to the 'Today' show This year was also the first year that the judges panel was made up of exclusively women.