She explained that despite being aware that the way people view her would change, she decided to be openly transgender to avoid having any regrets in later life. The pageant was an amazing experience! It’s something I’ve wanted to do for the longest time so to actually live out my dream has been amazing!Īrielle, who is studying for a fashion design bachelor’s degree, revealed coming out as a transgender woman was more ‘terrifying’ than telling people about being a gay man. The glamorous trailblazer, who is the first post-operative transgender contestant to compete in the Miss New Zealand beauty pageant, describes the concept as not being outdated but ‘actually badass’. With everything going as per her dreams and wishes, it seems like Arielle won 2020.26-Year-Old Transgender Woman Crowned Miss Intercontinental New Zealand Image InstagramĪ transgender Filipino woman has made history after being the first to achieve the highly coveted title of Miss Intercontinental New Zealand 2020.Īrielle Keil, 26, who was born in Davao City, Philippines as a boy named Andrew, but grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, underwent gender reassignment surgery earlier this year. Now her family is very proud to have her as a daughter. But luckily things got changed and everything improved. She revealed that when she was kicked out of her home she had no idea what to do next. She also shared that she does not want to have any regret later in life. She told that being part of the Beauty Pageant was an incredible experience that she had been waiting long to fulfill her dream. She just not won the title of Miss Intercontinental NZ but also competed in Miss New Zealand Beauty Pageant. But Arielle spent her life growing up as a boy in the city of New Zealand, Auckland. No matter wherever you are you will never feel alone when you have so many people around you.Īrielle was born as a boy in the Davao city of the Phillippines. When she had no place to live, her chosen family came out in big support. She shared that her chosen family also helped her in pulling out of the dark phases of life. She told that her chosen family that has every kind of a person that she created on her own is equally important as her blood family. If you are no longer a part of your blood family and then go out, make friends, and create your own family. And second, the family which you create on your own later in life. First, the family in which you are born by blood. She reminded that anyone who is trying to overcome the feeling of being ignored or alone should know that there exist two varying types of families. Seeing her father treating her as the daughter is such a beautiful feeling and the relationship is so much healthier. She shared that she isn’t just serious about the title she is holding but she feels like she is all on her own. She told that after being kicked out of the house and realizing the value of being independent, she gained the respect level for her father.
Since she had undergone transition surgery, it became slightly different.
She told that at the beginning his father tried to connect with her not just because they were so different but also there was nothing common in the relationship which is mostly the same in the father-son relationship. Arielle is the first Filipino and first transgender woman who received this titleĪrielle revealed in an interview that she always has been trying to improve her relationship with her father throughout her life, it was not only just during the transition period.