Maryland Crowns Bailey Anne Kennedy As First Transgender Miss Maryland USA

Maryland crowned Bailey Anne Kennedy as the first transgender Miss Maryland USA on Saturday. Kennedy, 31, and the wife of an active Marine, also marked a historic moment for the competition as the first Asian American and military officer’s wife to win the award. Kennedy also exceeded the age limit as previously, the maximum age of a contestant was 28.

Kennedy celebrated the event on social media, thanking fans for their support. In her post, the newly crowned Miss Maryland acknowledged her experiences as both a member of the LGBTQ and Asian American community.

“Not everyone has to agree with the spaces that you occupy, and it doesn’t mean that you aren’t worthy of these opportunities,” Kennedy wrote in her caption. “The work that I will do for the remainder of my life is to make sure that children who feel like me will never have to worry about the consequences of being who they are by simply being myself and being a positive contribution to society.”

In a television interview, Kennedy also said she felt inspired by the “sisterhood” she saw in these competitions. She added that she did not feel any anxiety or fear about being transgender while competing.

“I knew that it was going to mean a lot for all the LGBTQ kids out there who might feel like they don’t belong in a box—like me growing up,” Kennedy stated.

Kennedy became inspired to compete after her marriage in 2019. She is also a representative for USO and shows great pride in the United States. Following her win, Kennedy plans to compete for the Miss USA title on August 4 in Los Angeles.

Last year, a court ruled that Miss USA could limit contestants to “natural born females,” so it is unclear if Kennedy will be allowed to compete.