Bella Bautista, Miss Georgia USA's First Trans Contestant, On Why She Withdrew From the Pageant
Bella Bautista
Bella Bautista, a 22-year-old who reigned as Miss Buckhead 2025, would have made history competing as the first openly trans contestant in the Miss Georgia USA competition, but she recently made the difficult decision to relinquish her crown and withdraw from the pageant, saying the organization doesn't align with her values.
Bautista, a college student studying economics and history, announced in an Instagram post on March 18 that it was 'with a heavy heart' that she was 'officially relinquishing' her title. 'When I joined this pageant, I did so with the hope of breaking barriers, inspiring others, and showing that representation matters,' Bautista wrote. 'However, after deep reflection, I have come to the decision that the organization's affiliations and actions no longer align with my personal values and my mission for inclusivity and a world free of discrimination.'
The pageant world hasn't always been a bastion of inclusivity and diversity. In 2012, the Miss USA organization (which Miss Georgia USA is affiliated with) changed its rules to allow trans women to compete. In 2021, Miss Nevada, Kataluna Enriquez, became the first openly transgender contestant to compete in the Miss USA pageant, and other trans women have been successful in their state-level pageants. Teen Vogue has reached out to Miss USA for comment but has not yet heard back.
When two transgender contestants – Miss Portugal and Miss Netherlands – competed in Miss Universe in 2023, Bautista was inspired. 'Just seeing them up there and Miss Portugal actually placing [in the] top 20 made me realize that, as a transgender woman, being on that stage could someday be my reality.' She immediately applied for the pageant and received the acceptance call on her birthday. Bautista was looking forward to competing in the Miss Georgia USA pageant, where she would have been the first openly trans contestant to do so.
Bautista spoke with Teen Vogue about why she made the decision to relinquish her title, the unique struggles facing the trans community right now, and what's bringing her hope.
The following conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Bella Bautista: The organization's affiliations and actions no longer align with Miss Universe's and my mission for inclusivity in a world free [from] discrimination. I hope to show transgender women all across the world to always stand up for themselves and to hold on to their values and to speak up when something isn't right.
BB: Yes. After I signed up, I started seeing posts on her page where she was posting a lot of things supporting Trump and pictures with Trump, and that started to raise a red flag in my mind. That started to make me really nervous because, as the first transgender person [to be in the contest], especially in Georgia, a very conservative state, I didn't know how I was going to be. Going into this space, unfortunately I knew that I was going to be labeled as the trans contestant. I wanted, more than anything, to be judged fairly. If I do score highly, I would like to walk away with the title. I had concerns regarding the judging and overall scoring.
[Editor's Note: Teen Vogue has reached out to Greenwood Productions and Kim Greenwood for comment, but has not yet heard back.]
BB: It felt [like the] right step. I believe that luck comes when opportunity and preparation presents itself. Behind the scenes, I've been working tirelessly to be able to prepare for the Miss Georgia USA pageant. To be able to have that title and to be the representation for my community meant the most for me. I was so happy that so many people within my community reached out and gave me their support, not only in Buckhead, but also at my hometown, which is Cartersville, Georgia. It felt good to know that I inspired people out there to go for their dreams and to not stop themselves simply because of their gender identity, sexuality, or race.
BB: To have to make that announcement was probably one of the most difficult things that I've had to do in my entire life. But I also feel at peace because I know that I was that first to be accepted into Miss Georgia USA. I hope that it will light the path to the next change [for someone to] be able to achieve her dream.
I want everyone to know that transgender people, we are not trying to destroy the world or retract women's rights or invade anyone's space. We are not trying to make anyone uncomfortable. I'm doing the best that I can to represent the community. [I'm] trying to present myself as an intelligent woman, trying to represent our challenges and adversities as an intelligent woman, especially during this time. During that, I've also had the opportunity to testify in front of the Georgia Senate, the Georgia House of Representatives, to be able to not only talk to my community, but also to lawmakers about our perspective.
BB: The thing that's making me hopeful is that my pageant journey is not over. In fact, I feel as if I'm just getting started. What makes me hopeful is that one day I will live in a nation where my trans identity isn't categorized by either party, isn't being used as a political prop at either party.
I want people to know that no matter what happens, I'm going to continue fighting.
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
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