Bailey Anne Kennedy, the newly crowned Miss Maryland USA, is a Cambodian American trans woman and military spouse who has bravely spoken out against transphobic hate comments she received after winning her title.

Kennedy, who immigrated from Cambodia at the age of 11, felt inspired to enter beauty pageants after Miss USA removed restrictions on married contestants over the age of 28. Last week, she secured the state title and celebrated her victory at Washington, D.C.’s Capital Pride Parade.

Reflecting on her win, Kennedy shared on Instagram, “Sometimes the underdog does win in the end.”

Despite her triumph, Kennedy faced criticism and transphobic remarks on social media, with some questioning her inclusion in the competition and suggesting she didn’t deserve to win over cisgender contestants. In response, Kennedy addressed these comments in another Instagram post.

She wrote, “Not everyone has to agree with the spaces that you occupy, and it doesn’t mean that you aren’t worthy of these opportunities.” Kennedy vowed to dedicate herself to ensuring that children facing similar struggles will never fear being themselves and will have equal opportunities to contribute positively to society.

The Miss Maryland USA organization, which assesses contestants based on interview, swimwear, and evening gown segments, shared a supportive message for Bailey Anne Kennedy and the transgender community.

“Since 2012, trans women have been embraced in our organization,” the organization stated. “Every individual has the right to live authentically and pursue all opportunities, and we believe Bailey Anne epitomizes these values. ” We view Bailey’s victory as a triumph for all who dared to dream the impossible dream.”

According to information on her website, Bailey Anne Kennedy is married to an active duty member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Reflecting on her marriage, she initially believed she would have to set aside her aspirations permanently. “I knew that my life would be forever changed,” she shared. “I accepted the fact that his commitment to our country would always come first and any career aspirations of mine would be second.”

However, Kennedy viewed the rule change by Miss USA last year as a “sign” and an opportunity to pursue her dreams. She aspires to utilize her title to advocate for and support other military families.

Kennedy has also been outspoken about her Cambodian heritage, revealing her struggles to overcome language barriers upon moving to the U.S. She considers winning the crown as a significant milestone. “I kept getting so emotional all day because I knew it was bigger than me. I knew that it only took 67 years for married women to compete freely. Let alone to have an immigrant who happened to be bullied all of life for her accent and her different ways of doing things,” she expressed in a post.

In 2019, Katie Williams made national news after being stripped of her Miss Nevada title due to her outspoken political beliefs. In 2024 we have a man in a dress winning Miss Nevada.