Marina Machete

Marina Machete (born 1 October 1995) is a Portuguese model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Portugal 2023. Machete is the first Portuguese transgender woman to participate in the Miss Universe contest. She will compete at the Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador.
She is the second trans woman to compete in Miss Universe in 2023 after Rikkie Kollé of Netherlands. She also won the Most Confident Award at the competition.
In 2018, Machete started working as a flight attendant. She is fluent in Portuguese and English. Days before winning the Miss Portugal title, the model took to social media to say she was proud to be the first trans woman to compete for the title. The post has more than 500 comments.
Background
Early life
Machete was born on 1 October, 1995, in a small town of Palmela, located in the Lisboa Region and Setúbal District, about 25 km (16 mi) south of Lisbon. Machete is a devout advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity. She was born biologically as male before undergoing gender reassignment. As a result of being a transgender woman, she exprienced a lot of back lash on social media after being crowned as Miss Universe Portugal.
Machete posted to Instagram over the weekend after winning the contest, “to all of you watching, I just want to say that, just like the universe, your possibilities in life are limitless...So don’t limit yourself to any dream that you have.” Marina's influence is revolutionary in the world of beauty, where the conventional typically dictates the standard. She draws the borders that have constrained beauty to a restricted definition and enables it to thrive in its wide spectrum. Her view of beauty transcends the superficial and celebrates uniqueness, knowing that genuine beauty rests in diversity. She urges others to accept their unique personalities and defy the restrictions imposed by societal norms by exhibiting a range of shapes.
Pageantry
Miss Universe Portugal 2023
At 28 years old, Machete, a flight attendant, beat 16 participants and marked a turning point in the perception and acceptance of the trans community in beauty pageants. She will compete at the Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador. The event will have another Miss Trans, Rikkie Valerie Kolle, representing the Netherlands. Before them, there was the transgender Angela Ponce, Miss Spain, who participated in Miss Universe in 2018, without making it to the finals. This currently marks 2 male born contestants so far to ever compete for the women’s title. Both women have used their platforms to advocate for trans rights, emphasizing the need to combat rising levels of "transphobia and intolerance" around the world.
The Miss Universe Organization's commitment to inclusivity extends beyond trans contestants. In the past two years, they have allowed married and divorced women, pregnant women, and women with children to participate. Looking ahead, in 2024, the age limit that restricts entry to those 28 and under will be removed, opening the door for every adult woman in the world to compete.
The Miss Universe Organization has permitted transgender participants since 2012, with notable contenders such as Angela Ponce in 2018. Meanwhile, some competitions, like Miss Italy, have not yet opened their doors to transgender women.
It can be recalled that in 2022, the Miss Universe Organization was purchased by Anne Jakkapong Jakrajutatip, marking her as its first woman owner.
Miss Portugal 2023
On Thursday 2023, Machete was awarded the Miss Portugal title in Borba, in the southeastern Evora region, Portugal.
Personal life
Machete is a transgender woman.
References
External links
1995 births
Living people
People from Lisbon
Portuguese beauty pageant winners
21st-century Portuguese LGBT people
Portuguese transgender people
Transgender female models
Miss Universe 2023 contestants
LGBT beauty pageant winners