Filipino trans woman Arielle Kiel represents New Zealand in Miss Intercontinental Pageant
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Filipino-German trans woman Arielle Kiel shares her inspiring coming out story and her road to the Miss Intercontinental Pageant as Miss New Zealand.
Half-Pinay trans woman Arielle Kiel is making history as the first transgender to compete as Miss New Zealand in the Miss Intercontinental Pageant.
The 26-year-old beauty queen trended online after sharing her gender transition which helped her in pageant competitions. Her dedication as Miss New Zealand helped her build a stronger connection with her family.
Arielle wrote, "In the 3.5 years I have been transitioning my Dad has slowly come to terms with the loss of his son and has learned to accept his new daughter. October 11 was my dad's birthday and also the finals for the Miss New Zealand pageant. I didn't expect my dad to come especially on his birthday but I remember being on stage and quickly glancing at the audience and by my friends was my Dad. I wanted to cry tears of joy. The same man that used to reprimand me for acting 'like a girl' growing up is in the audience watching me compete in a beauty pageant. His face lit up with so much happiness and pride."
She also opened up about receiving homophobic comments during her childhood which motivated her to gain acceptance in the LGBTQIA+ community.
In an interview with GMA News, Arielle said, “My whole life, all I heard was 'bakla,' 'bayot' -- all of that, but not once did I change. I would come home crying because kids would bully me and not once did I think, 'I'm gonna try to be more masculine.”
“I stayed true to myself and look where it got me,” Arielle said.
She also gave a message to parents struggling to adjust to their children's identity. "My message to the parents would be to look at why you have those views around transgender people, around gay people, whatever, and then ask yourself, 'are those views more important than the child I raised?"
#Acceptance: Celebs who are proud members of the LGBTQ community
