With each passing day, models irrespective of their gender are ruling the fashion industry. Their beauty and confidence at the runway have captured many and seen as an inspiration for stylists and fans alike. Continuing to break the stereotypical barriers, a transgender woman has become the first to represent her country at Miss Universe competition. Angela Ponce was crowned the title of Miss Universe Spain and now she will be battling for the ultimate Miss Universe 2018 title. Angela Ponce’s gorgeous looks have heartthrob the followers, and the pictures on her Instagram profile speaks a lot about her.

The 5 feet 9-inch beauty queen will walk the ramp to compete in the global Miss Universe contest to be held in the Philippines in December 2018. There has been a lot of coverage on Angela Ponce who even took part in 2015 Miss World Spain but could not triumph that competition. After winning the crown on June 29—right at the end of Pride Month, the revolutionary beauty queen is on cloud nine. Seeing her emphatic win, her fans can’t stop knowing more and more about the new beauty queen. Scrolling down her Instagram posts with thousands of positive comments explains the immense love Ponce is receiving from her supporters and fans. Here, we have gathered few snaps, and we bet you cannot take your eyes off her boldness.

La vida está llena de retos, de desafíos, comprender eso en mi vida ha hecho que hoy haya cumplido un sueño que siempre tuve, para ello lo único que necesite fue convertir cada obstáculo que se me presentaba como una oportunidad de crecimiento. Desde mi tenacidad, con constancia, disciplina, respeto, amor a mi misma cierro con La Corona del Miss Universo España una etapa donde camine de la mano de mi familia y amigos recibiendo siempre su apoyo y amor incondicional, sin ellos nada de esto sería posible. @daniela_fundacion por permitirme crecer y ser mejor persona a su lado. Y a mis preparadores @juliomatamoros_hair y @jorgematamorosmakeup por confiar en mi y regalarme su tiempo, sus conocimientos y su ilusión. Hoy comienza un nuevo ciclo para mí, comprometida conmigo misma, con mi misión de vida, con España, voy rumbo al @missuniverse, con la conciencia y el compromiso de llevar adelante un mensaje de inclusión, respeto, tolerancia, amor por uno mismo, amor por los demás. De la mano de @orgbemiss y @guillermoescobaroficial, llevando a adelante nuestro slogam: “SOMOS MÁS DE LO QUE VES”, les doy las Gracias por acompañarme en este maravilloso viaje, por creer en mí, por darme la oportunidad de poner un granito de arena por una sociedad que merece cambios, dejar una huella sembrada en cada ser humano que la vida me ponga en mi camino. Gracias por cada mensaje lleno de amor que me han enviado...

A post shared by ANGELA PONCE (@angelaponceofficial) on

Dressed in a stunning frock, Ponce fought back her tears as she posed with the coveted prize. Needless to say, but she looks spectacular with that crown!

Winning the most prestigious crown, 26-year-old Ponce expresses in an Insta post in Spanish that she wants to be a voice of “inclusion, respect and diversity not only for the LGBTQ+ community but also for the entire world.”

Miss Universe Spain 2018 Angela Ponce revealed in several media outlets that at the age of 11, she first began to explore her gender identity and completed her transition in April 2014.

In an interview speaking with PinkNews, Ponce was quoted saying, “I want to give a lesson to the world of tolerance and respect towards oneself and towards others.”

“I appreciate that there are contests like that, of course. But I am Angela, I am a person, I am a woman and, within the range of diversity of what it is to be a woman, I am a transsexual woman. I want to be me and that people respect me as such,” Ponce said to a Spanish news portal.

It was six years ago that transgender contestants were first allowed to compete in one of the most life-changing contests, Miss Universe. This was initiated after trans contestant Jenna Talackova was disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada when organisers of the show discovered that she had transitioned from male to female. After weeks of debate, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced the significant policy change by Miss Universe Organization allowing women who are transgender to participate in its beauty contests. Miss Universe Spain is ready to take on the stage of Miss Universe 2018.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 04, 2018 07:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).