Sofa Salomn, the trans model who wants to ‘make history’ at Miss Venezuela – Internacional

2023-05-27 17:10:00

Applause drowned out by loud pop music starts the camera clicks. With bathing suits, Sofa Salomn poses naturally with the same confidence that she aspires to be the first transgender woman to compete in Miss Venezuela.

This 25-year-old model hopes that this “repercussion” will give “visibility” to trans people in a very conservative society.

This event is more than a beauty pageant in a country with seven “queens” of the Miss Universe category – 1979, 1981, 1986, 1996, 2008, 2009 and 2013 – and six Miss World winners – 1955, 1981, 1984, 1991, 1995 and 2011. Despite a decade of economic crisis, the contest continues to bring together millions of spectators.

“In the same way that football is very important in other countries, being a beauty queen here is very important (…), a feeling and for me it is very beautiful”, said AFP Sofa, whose candidacy caused an uproar on social networks and in the press. shortly before the competition, scheduled for December.

“I was in a restaurant here in Caracas and someone said to me: ‘Hey, are you Sofa Salomn, the transsexual who will participate in Miss Venezuela?’ visibility to what nobody talks about”, he comments after the photo session.

“Everybody follows what happens at Miss Venezuela,” she says. “For me, being there would be making history.”

Last year, she competed in Miss International Queen, Thailand’s biggest beauty pageant for trans women, and placed in the top six.

“There were many messages on social networks” from people who wanted her to “participate in another contest”, described the model. “Now that Miss Universe and Miss World accept transgender girls, this possibility opens up for me to participate in Miss Venezuela”.

ngela Ponce broke barriers when, in 2018, she was the first trans woman at Miss Universe as Miss Spain.

– Message to society –

Sofa Salomn’s face reflects concentration as her image manager, Jordys Charles, announces that the photographer is about to start the session.

However, the event is getting closer. Registration for Miss Venezuela closes on May 31st and each candidate will be evaluated later for the selection of participants.

“Since I can remember, I’ve had the support of my father, my mother and my entire family (…). I had an excellent childhood, full of respect, love, and that makes everything easier, because you can show society who you really are”, he reports.

Born in Ciudad Bolvar, in the south of the country, the young woman has already been a model in Spain, Mexico and owner of a clothing brand – ‘Diva by me, Sofa Salomn’.

Not everyone is that lucky.

“Being trans in Venezuela is hell for many people,” laments Richelle Briceo, a trans woman and activist.

“The opportunity that Miss Sofa Salomn has a message for society (…) Despite Venezuela being an extremely conservative country (…), we, the trans people here, survive and impose ourselves in the good sense of the word, because we are taking up space”, recognizes the lawyer.

– “It’s always been like this” –

Argentina was a forerunner in Latin America in accepting gender reassignment in 2012, followed by Uruguay, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. Venezuela has no legislation in this regard, only allowing you to change your name and, even in this process, difficulties are common on the part of employees, according to complaints from LGBTQIA+ organizations.

“Everyone has advanced in the recognition of gender identity and Venezuela has remained stagnant in the dark ages”, emphasizes Briceo.

Sofa Salomn, for example, has dual Venezuelan-Colombian nationality. Her documents in Colombia, contrary to what happens in Venezuela, recognize her gender identity.

LGBTI+ groups have also unsuccessfully demanded legislation on same-sex marriage or same-sex families.

In this context, the model hopes to be a positive influence. “Whatever happens, I will continue to be a successful woman. It’s always been that way.”