Miss Universe Puerto Rico confirms second trans contestant for 2026.

Gabriel Rodríguez Velázquez will compete in the 2026 Miss Universe Puerto Rico pageant. (Facebook via Kings of A&R)

By THE STAR STAFF

Miss Universe Puerto Rico has announced that Gabriel Rodríguez Velázquez will compete in its 2026 national pageant, marking the second time an openly trans woman has entered the competition.

Rodríguez Velázquez follows Daniela Arroyo González, who broke ground in 2023 as the first trans contestant in the island’s Miss Universe franchise. Pageant organizers said the new announcement reflects their ongoing commitment to representing “modern womanhood in all its diversity,” a message the organization has increasingly emphasized in recent years.

In statements shared through the pageant’s official channels, Rodríguez Velázquez described her candidacy as a platform to advocate for dignity, equality and inclusion.

“I want to be Miss Universe Puerto Rico because of what I represent: a woman who stands for equality and respect,” she said in a promotional video released by the organization.

Beyond pageantry, Rodríguez Velázquez is known as a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans music, performance and writing. She is also an accomplished athlete, having competed in table tennis at the federation level in Puerto Rico.

Her participation comes amid broader changes within the Miss Universe Organization, which has allowed trans women to compete since 2012, with the policy first taking effect during the 2013 season.

As with previous milestones, the announcement has sparked debate across social media. In response to criticism directed at Rodríguez Velázquez, the LGBTQ+ Federation of Puerto Rico issued a statement defending her right to compete under existing rules and condemning hostile reactions as discriminatory.

“Trans people have dreams and aspirations like anyone else,” said federation director Ivana Fred Millán, noting that Rodríguez Velázquez earned her place “through effort and persistence.”

For Rodríguez Velázquez and her supporters, the significance of her participation extends beyond the competition itself.

“Every time a trans woman is visible in a space that once excluded us, doors open a little wider,” she said in a recent interview with island media.

Her entry into the 2026 pageant adds another chapter to the evolving conversation about representation, inclusion, and the future of beauty competitions in Puerto Rico and beyond.