The wife of a Marine has been crowned the first-ever transgender Miss Maryland USA — and said she was inspired by the “sisterhood” of other competitors she saw on the pageant circuit.
Bailey Anne Kennedy, 31, won the coveted title on Saturday, according to the official Miss Maryland USA Instagram account.
She is now prepared to compete at Miss USA, which will be held in Los Angeles on Aug. 4.
Bailey Anne Kennedy, 31, has been named the first trans Miss Maryland USA. baileyannekennedy/Instagram
The victory, Kennedy told WDCW, was a “whirlwind because I knew it was bigger than me.”
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“I knew that it was going to mean a lot for all the LGBTQ kids out there who might feel like they don’t belong in a box — like me growing up,” she explained.
Kennedy said she did not have any anxiety about being the only trans competitor, and said she felt bolstered by the “sisterhood” of women on stage.
“I felt confident in my own skin at 31, which is past the old age limit, which is 28 — as you know Miss Universe Organization lift the restriction now — so every woman of all ages can compete,” she pointed out.
Kennedy added that she “hopes her milestone will open up some doors, open up some hearts for people to see that there are many aspects of LGBT community out there and I hope I can be a positive contribution to society in making a difference like the USO program I’m working with.”
Kennedy was inspired to compete in pageants following her marriage in 2019, according to her website.
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Kennedy will now compete at Miss USA on August 4th. Bailey Anne Kennedy/InstagramKennedy said she was inspired by the “sisterhood” of the competition. baileyannekennedy/Instagram
“When I turned 30, The Miss Universe Organization lifted the traditional marital status and age restrictions. I knew it was a sign from the Universe that they are ready to crown an older, military spouse like myself,” the write-up explained.
“Although this is such a small effort, I could only imagine the magnitude of my action on a state level, national level or even on the international level if I win the title to represent USA, the beautiful country to which I owe so much,” she added.
In addition to being the first transgender Miss Maryland USA, Kennedy is also the first Asian American winner and the first military spouse to hold the title, according to The Advocate.
The first trans contestant to appear at Miss USA was Kataluna Enriquez, who competed as Miss Nevada USA in 2018, the outlet noted.
Kennedy is the wife of a marine as of 2019. baileyannekennedy/Instagram
“It hasn’t hit me yet. We just made history, and I don’t know how that feels. It was part of my goal, part of my dream,” Enriquez told the Las Vegas Sun in the wake of her history-making win in the state.
This past summer, we let you know that Pelicana chicken signed on to take over the space that was the longtime home of Woodside Deli in Rockville at 4 N Washington Street, according to Federal Realty. Woodside Deli closed in the summer of 2022 after 12 years at Rockville’s Courthouse Center.
This will be the first Maryland location for Pelicana Chicken, which has nearby locations in Annandale and Sterling, VA. Pelicana Chicken has stated that it’s currently hiring and anticipates an early January 2025 opening.
Per the restaurant: Pelicana Chicken was established in 1982 in Daejeon, South Korea. Since its inception, Pelicana has expanded to over 3000 stores and continues to grow aggressively abroad. Pelicana Chicken’s success is attributed to its variety of delicious sauces, chicken selections, and fresh ingredients.
Syracuse Orange guard Elijah Moore (8) tries to keep reaching arms from blocking him as the Syracuse Orange travelled to Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn to mix it up with the Maryland Terrapins for the Gotham Classic Saturday, December 21 ,2024. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com)N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com
MARYLAND — In a statement emailed out Saturday afternoon, Governor Wes Moore, says state workers are getting an extra holiday in 2024, Christmas Eve.
“Our state employees have worked tirelessly all year long ensuring that Maryland is safer, more affordable, more competitive and the state that serves. We hope that all of our incredible public servants across the state can take a much-needed day to be with their loved ones this holiday season.”
The day will be treated like any other state employee holiday. This will make Tuesday, the 14th holiday for state employees.
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