A transgender woman is making headlines in Puerto Rico after joining the lineup for Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2026, adding another milestone to the country’s growing conversation around inclusion in beauty pageants.
Gabriel Rodríguez Velázquez, who is representing the municipality of Cidra, is the second openly transgender contestant to ever compete in the national pageant. She follows Daniela Arroyo González, who first broke that barrier back in 2023. Organizers have confirmed that the pageant now allows a wider range of contestants, including transgender women, as well as mothers and married women, reflecting updated rules in the Miss Universe system.
For Rodríguez Velázquez, the competition is about more than just the crown. She has said she wants to use the platform to highlight equality, visibility, and respect for people who are often left out of mainstream spaces. Outside of pageants, she is also involved in music, performance, and sports, which she often talks about as key parts of who she is.
Her participation hasn’t come without debate. Some political figures in Puerto Rico, including Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, have criticized the decision to allow transgender contestants in the pageant, arguing against it publicly. At the same time, many LGBTQ+ advocates and supporters have welcomed her inclusion, seeing it as a positive step toward broader acceptance and representation.
Trans women have been allowed to compete in Miss Universe-related pageants since 2012, and more countries have slowly followed with their own national changes. Puerto Rico’s latest move shows how pageantry continues to shift with the times, even if not without controversy. If Rodríguez Velázquez wins the national title, she’ll go on to represent Puerto Rico at Miss Universe 2026.
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