VIDEO: Beyoncé Nieves Crowned ‘Miss Trans USA’

As Miss Trans USA, Nieves is keenly aware of the platform she now holds, and she intends to use it to spotlight both the trans community and Spokane itself.

In addition to beauty and poise, contestants at the Miss Trans USA pageant are also evaluated based on their charitable work. For this competition, Nieves partnered with the Lavender Rights Project, a Seattle-based nonprofit that advocates for Black and gender-diverse communities. Through her involvement in the pageant and other events, Nieves has helped raise over a million dollars for the Lavender Rights Project.

Beyoncé Black St. James is a drag stage title while his real name is Beyoncé Nieves, per the Spokesman-Review.

The specific pageant’s website said, “The Trans USA National Pageantry System strives to celebrate and promote the development of transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming leaders as visible advocates and role models for the community at large.” The pageant is also a non-profit.

In June, the Miss Maryland USA beauty pageant crowned its first transgender winner, Bailey Anne Kennedy, Breitbart News reported.

“Bailey Anne Kennedy — a biological male who identifies as a woman — will go on to compete in the Miss USA competition set for August 4 in Los Angeles,” the outlet said.

“This isn’t the first time the Miss USA pageant will feature a transgender contestant. As Breitbart News reported, Kataluna Enriquez won Miss Nevada USA in 2021,” the article read.