Bailey Anne Kennedy made history on Saturday, June 1, by becoming the first transgender and Asian American to be crowned Miss Maryland USA.

Kennedy is a Cambodian American and also married to a military officer. According to The Baltimore Sun, she is also the first military spouse to win Miss Maryland USA.

She said that she experienced a great deal of support from the “sisterhood” of Miss Maryland USA contestants while she was competing, Advocate reports.

“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 said per DC News Now.

Kennedy also told DC News Now that she “hopes that it 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 like I’m working with.”

Furthermore, Kennedy spoke with DC News Now stating that once she realized she just won her first pageant, it was a “whirlwind because I knew it was bigger than me. 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.”

Kennedy will now head to Los Angeles to compete for the Miss USA crown, with the competition scheduled to air on Sunday, August 4, on The CW.

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