Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a United States and Thailand-based Miss Universe Organization. Along with Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, Miss Universe is one of the Big Four international beauty pageants.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Albania face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, although LGBT people are protected under comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. Both male and female same-gender sexual activities have been legal in Albania since 1995, but households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-gender couples, with same-sex unions not being recognized in the country in any form.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights in Kosovo have improved in recent years, most notably with the adoption of the new Constitution, banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. Kosovo remains one of the few Muslim-majority countries where LGBT pride parades are held annually.
The Miss Universe Albania is a national Beauty pageant in Albania. The pageant was founded as Miss Albania in 2002, until rebranding as Miss Universe Albania in 2006.
Egla Harxhi is an Albanian model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss World Albania 2007 and then represented her country at Miss World 2008. She is the youngest Albanian to win the Miss Albania award and compete in the Miss World pageant. She competed in the 2008 Miss World beauty pageant held in Johannesburg, South Africa. After this experience she stopped her career in modeling and beauty pageants.
Miss Pakistan World is a beauty pageant for women of Pakistani descent from around the world. The event used to be held in Toronto, Canada but has moved to Pakistan and is held annually in Lahore, Pakistan.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in North Macedonia face discrimination and some legal and social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity have been legal in North Macedonia since 1996, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
Miss International Queen is the world's biggest beauty pageant for transgender women. The pageant was conceived in 2004 and named the largest and most prestigious by CNN original American documentary television series This Is Life with Lisa Ling aired on 26 November 2017.
Geena Rocero is a Filipino-born American model, TED speaker, and transgender advocate based in New York City. Rocero is the founder of Gender Proud, a media production company that tells stories of the transgender community worldwide to elevate justice and equality. Rocero has spoken about transgender rights at the United Nations Headquarters, the World Economic Forum, and the White House.
Miss Sahhara is a British Nigerian beauty queen and human rights advocate.
Miss Trans Israel is a beauty pageant for transgender people. It was first held in 2016 in Tel Aviv, when it was won by Talleen Abu Hanna. She represented the nation of Israel in the Miss Trans Star International beauty pageant, that was held in the city of Barcelona in 2016.
Miss World 2018, the 68th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 8 December 2018 at the Sanya City Arena in Sanya, China. Manushi Chhillar of India crowned her successor Vanessa Ponce of Mexico at the end of the event. She is the first Mexican woman to win Miss World.
Crystal LaBeija was an American drag queen and trans woman who co-founded the House of LaBeija in 1968. The House is often credited as starting the house system in ball culture. She became a mother figure for homeless LGBTQ youth.
Leitis In Waiting is a 2018 feature-length documentary about transgender rights in Tonga. It was produced and directed by Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson and Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu. The filmmakers previously explored trans rights in the Pacific in their films Kumu Hina and A Place in the Middle.
Naaz Joshi is India's first transgender international beauty queen, a trans rights activist and a motivational speaker.
Miss Trans Global is an annual international pageant for transgender women. It claims to be the biggest international advocacy pageant for transgender women. The event broadcasts live on multiple social networking websites from London, England. It has gained traction for transgender advocacy, raising awareness about queer culture and LGBT concerns, particularly in countries where transphobia and homophobia are prevalent. The pageant presents itself as a safe space for transgender women to share their lived experiences through speeches, talent shows, and art.
Sruthy Sithara is an Indian model and actress. Born in Vaikom, Kerala, Sithara experienced gender dysphoria growing up, but embraced her transgender identity and came out after college. Sithara was one of four transgender people in the employment of the Government of Kerala, working in their Social Justice Department.
Miss Grand Albania is an Albanian female beauty pageant founded in 2014 by a Pristina-based event organizer chaired by Sherif Pacolli, Lens Production. In 2018, the competition license was later transferred to the modeling agency managed by Aleks Tanushi, Aleks Fashion Events (A.F.E.), and its headquarters was also relocated to Tirana. The pageant winner represents the country at its international parent contest, Miss Grand International.
Miss Grand Kosovo is a national Beauty pageant in Kosovo founded by a Pristina-based event organizer chaired by Sherif Pacolli, Lens Production. The pageant winner represents the country at its international parent contest, Miss Grand International. From 2014 to 2018, the pageant was held in parallel with the Miss Grand Albania competition as Miss Grand Albania & Kosovo, but after Aleks Tanushi of Aleks Fashion Events (A.F.E.) took over the Albanian franchise in 2018, it was instead organized as a stand-alone pageant from 2019 to 2021.
