Miss Trans Global Philippines crowns Albiean Revalde of Iloilo
All hail the new queen!
Albiean Revalde of Iloilo has been crowned as Miss Trans Global Philippines 2021 during a virtual pageant last Sunday, June 6, besting 24 other hopefuls from different parts of the country.
During the final question round, Miss World 2013 Megan Young asked, "With so many efforts dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community this Pride month, what does it mean to be an authentic ally?"
The 19-year-old answered that "to be an authentic ally and to be an advocate in general" means one should integrate themselves "to the actual community that you are advocating for.
"A real ally knows our stories and has the courage and the harmony to fight for our rights," she said adding, "they don’t need to be in the limelight for us to shine, they’ll just support us."
"Just like love, we love without conditions and that is what composes a true ally," Revalde concluded.
Revalde, who is a second year Industrial Engineering Student from PUP Sta. Mesa Campus, wore a Dinagyang-Babaylan armor to represent her hometown and its fun and vibrant Dinagyang festival.
"It is indeed a celebration but it is and should also be a reminder to us of our plight, of our roots, and of our culture’s beauty," she wrote in a post, saying how the festival reminds her of Pride.
For Revalde, winning the title is a bonus, but being chosen to be part of such pageant is a privilege in itself. "Mx’s, I am just beyond grateful to be part of the MTG PH 2021 cast, to begin with," she tweeted last June 5.
"We know that we are here not to merely compete against one another or aim for the title for ourselves, but rather, come together as a community of different orientations so we get to forward our plight more interdisciplinarily."
"I believe that I am here to highlight the trans kids’ and youth’s situation, as well as, those coming from the basic masses who are experiencing multiple layers of marginalization," the Iloilo beauty added.
Revalde also said that being the youngest among the contestants does not make her vulnerable, "but rather a strength that I can best manifest as an advocate."
A real ally knows our stories and has the courage and the harmony to fight for our rights. They don’t need to be in the limelight for us to shine, they’ll just support us.
"Our belongingness in our community transcends beyond our generations and intersections, and as I join as the youngest candidate, I am bringing the essences taught by our trans pioneers, my mothers, my guardians, my siblings, and my ancestors, for I stand here not just as myself but as a person with an identity that I owe to our community," she ended.
Revalde succeeds Mela Habijan, the first Filipina to win the Queen Global title in Miss Trans Global 2020. She will represent the country in the international pageant to be held later this year.
