31-year-old Bailey Anne Kennedy made history earlier this month by becoming the first transgender woman to win the title of Miss Maryland in addition to being the first Asian American to wear the crown. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, June 4, the newly crowned pageant queen opened up about how her identity has played a role in her career, writing candidly about how she deals with detractors.
Meet Bailey Anne Kennedy, First Trans Woman To Win Miss Maryland
In addition to being the first trans and Asian American woman to win Miss Maryland, she is the first married woman and the first woman older than 28 to win the title. Though transgender women have been allowed to participate in the Miss USA pageants since 2012, 2024 is the first year that women over the age of 28 were allowed to compete.
"To be the first Miss Maryland USA that is representing all of these aspects of what it means to be beautifully confident, means everything to me. I do not take it lightly, it is such an honour," Kennedy said to CBS. The outlet also reported that Kennedy's desires to win were fueled by the thought of representing her community to the best of her ability.
Watch her reaction here:
She also said, "I hope that I can be a beautiful contribution to society so that we are no longer looking at the LGBTQIA+ community in a negative light. Minority girls are going to be able to see me and see themself and be able to see their reflection through my journey as well."
Bailey plans to participate in the Miss USA pageant in August and aims to further qualify for Miss Universe.
Who is she?
Kennedy was raised in Montgomery County. She immigrated from Cambodia to the United States when she was 11.
Kennedy — whose husband is a U.S. Marine — has long been an advocate for military spouses, and has cited the USO as one of her platforms.
She told NBC Washington, "I actually have never competed in pageants before. I've been watching Miss USA and Miss Universe all my life. I never thought that I could be here, one day, and actually wear the title of Miss Maryland USA."
"Not everyone has to agree with the spaces that you occupy, and it doesn’t mean that you aren’t worthy of these opportunities," she wrote in an Instagram post, alongside a photo of herself tearing up as she won the competition.
"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," she continued.
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