Spain made history when it crowned the first transgender queen yesterday, June 30.

Twenty-five-year-old Angela Ponce won the title Miss Universe-Spain 2018, defeating 20 other candidates during the pageant held at the auditorium of Palau Firal i de Congressos de Tarragona.

The trans Sevillian model, who underwent surgery for sexual reassignment, previously represented the province of Cadiz in Miss Spain World 2015 where she lost to Miss Barcelona Mireia Lalaguna.

At that time, Angela promised to keep fighting for the LGBT community. She said, “Society is not educated for diversity and that is what has made me go public. Here I am and I’m not weird, I just have a different story. I introduced myself as Angela Ponce and won as Angela Ponce. It is part of my history and I have nothing to hide.”

Further into the interview with Mail Online, Angela shared that she knew from an early age that she was different while thanking her parents for their endless support. “When my parents asked me what toy I wanted, I went straight for the Barbies. The bottom line is that my family supported me when I was little.”

Angela was just 11 years old when she first discovered transsexuality. Years later, she decided to undergo hormone therapy, leading to her complete transition in 2014.

The Miss Universe Organization first allowed transgender women to compete for the pageant in 2012, when Jenna Talackova a transgender model from Vancouver filed a complaint after being disqualified to enter the competition.

Ponce’s victory coincides with the celebration of Pride Month.

Spain last won Miss Universe when Amparo Muñoz was crowned in 1974. Ponce is set to go against our candidate, Miss Universe-Philippines Catriona Gray.