The prospect of Indonesia being represented by a trans woman at the next Miss Universe pageant seemed momentarily plausible when the company that runs the contest let slip its preliminary eligibility requirements.
Miss Universe Indonesia launched anew this week with license owner PT Capella Swastika Karya (CSK) taking over from Yayasan Puteri Indonesia, with the latter holding exclusive rights to the pageant from 1992 to 2022.
As such, the winner of CSK’s Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 (not Puteri Indonesia, as was in years past) will go on to represent the country at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant later this year.
Before we can begin guessing who that woman might be, the contest must first draft its eligibility requirements, which they have yet to announce to the public.
However, a rumor spread on social media today, reportedly based on a live stream of a meeting between pageant organizers, saying that trans women would be eligible to audition for Miss Universe Indonesia, as long as they are legally registered as women in the country.
Soon after, the pageant released a statement denying the rumor, stressing that they have yet to publicize eligibility requirements for the contest.
CSK founder and Miss Universe Indonesia national director Poppy Capella posted stories on Instagram today clarifying that the contest is open only to people who are registered as women in their KTP (national ID card) and passport.
While that technically doesn’t necessarily exclude trans women, a press release by the pageant’s organizers stressed that the eligibility rules will abide by Indonesian customs and norms.
Now is as good a time as any to expect more inclusivity within Miss Universe, considering that the organization was last year acquired by Thai tycoon Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, making her the first woman — and the first trans woman — to lead the pageant globally. Jakrajutatip notably expressed her desire to evolve Miss Universe towards more progressive ideals.
Spain’s Angela Ponce broke barriers to become the first trans woman contestant in 2018 — the 67th edition of the pageant. The organization, long owned by Donald Trump, lifted its ban on transgender contestants in 2012.
