Former Miss Earth Philippines Joy Barcoma shared her thoughts on trans women competing in beauty pageants. In a recent interview with King of Talk Boy Abunda earlier this week, the social media personality showed her full support for the changes that are being made in the pageantry world.
“What is your take on beauty pageants now like Miss Universe, pwede na ang mga transgender women. What is your take as a beauty queen?” Boy asked Joy.
“I actually agree with the decision of the Miss Universe Organization to take and accept transwomen in pageantry because if we want to celebrate femininity and womanhood, we should not discredit as well the experiences and the transition that our transwomen community went through,” she replied.
Miss Universe recently changed their rules on who can join the prestigious pageant–– allowing transwomen to participate in the competition. It was Spain’s Angela Ponce who became the first transgender woman to compete in the Miss Universe competition in 2018.
In the same interview, Joy then recalled her own highly controversial journey in the pageant world. It was back in 2021 when she was accused of spreading rumors that some of the contestants were using illegal substances–– which she was later cleared of.
“Ang kumalat na rumor, I was the one who initiated that chismis inside. So I came clean, I asked the organization to meddle, I called all the girls involved, and then I explained my side. Somebody admitted that it wasn’t me. I had my name cleared, but it wasn’t enough for me Tito Boy, kaya I had a presscon,” she recalled.
She added that they sent a demand letter to the organization and the candidates involved in the incident.
“We had a demand letter we sent out to the organization and to the girls who were involved. We said there specifically na I need na apology, if I don’t get an apology, I will be speaking about this matter publicly,” she continued.
Despite all the controversies she has faced, Joy maintained that she is already used to the rude remarks from netizens.
“I have to be used it –– I have to get used to it. Working in public service, I know I’m putting myself in a vulnerable position so I have to be ready for that. I know putting myself on a platform that faces a lot of people, you’re opening yourself up not just to positive feedback but also to criticisms,” she ended.