Can transgender women participate in the Miss America pageant?

Transgender athletes and competitors have often faced a challenge to be included in their desired sports, with many claiming they've got unfair advantages and the Miss America competition is no different.

Transgender athletes will be allowed to compete, mostly. For the 2025 season, trans people must not have "completed" medical transition. It's a stricter rule than previously, which allowed any identifying "female" entry.

According to information from the San Francisco Standard, competitors must be "a born female", or have "fully completed [sexual reassignment surgery]/Gender Affirming Surgery from male to female, with accompanying medical certification."

The contract further restricts transgender people by banning them from getting married ahead or in their status as a titleholder, but that isn't any different from previous deals.

Trans people react

The new conditions effectively bans any trans person from competing unless they have completed the expensive and lengthy ordeal of going from male-to-female.

As a result, many trans people feel that this is the opposite direction of progress and have not held back in voicing their opinions on the matter.

"It's way worse than I thought," said Miss Greater Derry (New Hampshire) 2023 Brian Nguyen, the first trans person to win locally.

But on the other hand, Miss America owner and CEO, Robin Fleming, has doubled-down on the new rules and makes it clear they will stay.

They did offer some peace of mind to those already competing by insisting that the new rules do not impact their current cycle.

"We have had three female transgender contestants compete on our stages this year,", Fleming said. "One of which is competing in the Miss California event next week, and her eligibility is not in question.

"Any future changes would not impact her eligibility or representation of her hometown for this year."