A talented and attractive Miss USA was crowned last week, and she deserves accolades, but we shouldn’t forget that there was a biological man who competed against her and the 49 other young women in the pageant. While conservatives are vocal in speaking out about biological men invading women’s sports, especially with the Olympics having wrapped up Sunday, we cannot forget pageantry, a platform that allows women like me to embrace our femininity and be role models for young girls. I remember when I first heard that a biological man who transitioned had won Miss Maryland USA back in June. At first, I was excited that someone who was married finally won a title, as it made me excited about competing at the Miss Georgia USA pageant, the preliminary competition to Miss USA, especially as a mother and wife myself. But when I found out that Miss Maryland USA, Bailey Anne Kennedy, was a biological man, I then asked myself, “Will there be someone like that at my pageant, too?” Transgender-identifying biological male contestant Bailey Anne Kennedy exults after winning Miss Maryland USA on June 1. Kennedy didn’t make the Top 10 or the finals at the Miss USA pageant Aug. 4. (Screenshot: Twitter/Libs of TikTok) Competing in a state Miss USA pageant as a mother was challenging enough, but Miss USA’s including biological men who transitioned in a place where women were meant to shine raises concerns about fairness and comfort, especially since we had to share female-designated private spaces—and because men and women are very different biologically from each other. It’s time to bring pageantry back to what it was meant for—celebrating and showcasing the beauty of womanhood. That would be women who grew up as girls and became women. If the dressing room at Miss Maryland USA was anything similar to that of Miss Georgia USA, where we all had to change in front of one another, I could not imagine undressing in front of a biological man who transitioned, as those young women must have had to do. As a result, I decided as much as possible that I would change in a back corner, behind all the other young women’s garment bags and luggage, unless I really needed help getting dressed. (We also shared a space with the Miss Georgia Teen USA contestants, who are minors.) There were even several contestants who competed in Miss Maryland USA who expressed concern over not knowing that Kennedy was transgender until after the competition. They felt “lied to,” “disgusted,” and as if the pageant was “rigged,” and the fact that most of the young women who spoke up did not want to share their names is also disheartening, as it is important to be heard right now. While pageantry is more than just about looks and appearances, in Miss USA and its parent organization, Miss Universe, those things are still important. Having excellent stage presence is a key to winning in pageantry, and how your body looks will play a role in that. Just as in women’s sports, biological men who have transitioned will still have many physical advantages over women. For example, most biological men will be taller and usually lose weight faster than women. If you look at the photos from Miss Maryland USA, you can see that Kennedy appears to be tall and fit. It’s just a fact that being taller and more fit can give you a leg up in pageantry. Facial features also matter. A lot of what the judges look for happens in facial expressions, and the same expressions look different on everyone. That’s why pageant coaches tell us that eye contact with the judges and audience are so important. Even when biological men transition to make their facial features look more feminine, there are those who still have more defined jawlines than the average natural-born woman. In addition to the attempts to diminish the accomplishments of natural-born women, I recall one of the emcees even wanting to see Miss USA and state pageants remove “Miss” in their names, which appears to be another attempt to erase women and their spaces. More pageant participants need to speak out about how unfair it is to have biological men compete in women’s spaces. I got involved in pageantry because it’s important to showcase womanhood, be a role model, and to let women speak up for what they believe. To that end, I remain committed to pageantry, striving to restore its original purpose and integrity. Author Frances Floresca competed in the Miss Georgia USA 2024 pageant on June 15. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Allowing Transgender Participants Demeans Womanhood, Pageant Contestant Says appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Paul Slobodzian, an Uber Eats driver and TikToker, has been driving as a side hustle to save for his and his fiancée, Aly Perkins’, dream wedding. One night, a woman named Erica Hernandez ordered her dinner from Chipotle. Paul picked up her order, and when he delivered it, he added a handwritten note. The note stated, "Thank you for your order! I'm delivering for on the side to give my fiancée the wedding she deserves. Any additional tip through the app or Venmo is greatly appreciated." RELATED: Unexpected Act of Kindness from 4-Year Old, Changed An Elderly Man's Life Erica Wanted To Help Erica was touched by the sweet sentiment and wanted to help. She posted it in a TikTok video, which went viral, despite Erica thinking she didn’t have too many followers. "I don't have a lot of followers, but hopefully this reaches the right people," the video says. And that it did. The video now has 37.1 million views, and because Paul’s Venmo was listed in the note, he started getting donations from the public. Chipotle even donated $500. Paul then posted an update on his own TikTok account. “Thank you so so much for everyone who has watched that video, who has liked the video, left a comment, shared it, anything you have done, um, to engage with that video. It truly means a lot,” Paul says to his followers. WATCH: The Uber Eats Driver’s Note Goes Viral The Couple Has Enough Money For Their Dream Wedding Paul has posted a few other updates-one with a Fox 10 clip, including his fiancée Aly. The two first met as sophomores in college and plan to get married this September. In the same clip, he mentions that Chipolte reached out and wants to be a part of the wedding in some capacity. RELATED: Teen Orders 100 McDonald's Burgers And Performs An Incredible Act Of Kindness Because of the kindness of strangers, both Paul and Aly, also an Uber Eats driver, could put down their side hustles. They now have enough money from the viral TikTok video with his special note. The young couple can now focus on the wedding planning and well as being able to spend more time together. The two are also paying it forward. They set aside $1,000 for Erica and invited her to be a guest of honor at their wedding. As crazy as social media can be, stories like this one warm your heart at how strangers can connect and help one another by using it. Many prayers and blessings to the couple as they prepare to start their lives together. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Police Officer's Act Of Kindness For Struggling Man Restores Stranger's Faith In Humanity “And now stays faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” – 1st Corinthians 13:13. LISTEN: 90-Yr-Old Shares How He Honors His Wife by Skydiving | Dennis Quaid and Jonathan Roumie in ‘Reagan Meets Jesus' Video h/t: Good News Network Featured Image Credit: YouTube/FOX 10 Phoenix The post Uber Eats Driver Earns Enough For Dream Wedding, Thanks to the Kindness of Strangers appeared first on GodUpdates.

Two Tourism companies have announced that North Korea will reopen to traveling foreigners by the end of 2024 following a shut down of all tourism.