Monday, March 31, is International Transgender Day of Visibility, an annual observance that uplifts transgender individuals and raises awareness that, despite political noise, these folks are our friends, neighbors, family and loved ones.
As Floridians grapple with legislation impacting LGBTQ+ rights, Trans Day of Visibility is an essential opportunity to spotlight transgender voices and show up and support Orlando’s trans community. Recent executive orders targeting transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals have strengthened the resolve of local advocates fighting to defend marginalized communities.
Orlando-based pageant queen Olivia Lauren was recently named first runner-up in the Miss International Queen USA 2025 pageant. And she had plenty to say in conversation with Orlando Weekly about the pageant and, more broadly, challenges facing the trans community in 2025.
“Me doing Miss International Queen was very important to be able to use my voice and stand up at this point in time,” says Lauren. “I fear we are going to repeat history again.”
She adds, “I decided to be a part of Miss International Queen USA because the USA is not in a great spot with a lot of communities, including what I am a part of, which is the LGBTQ+ community. Also, I am an immigrant; I come from immigrant parents.”
Lauren was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated to the United States, learning English before becoming an American citizen.
At this year’s Miss International Queen USA, Lauren won the accolade for Best Gown. The dress, which Lauren describes as her dream gown, was designed by Chicago-based designer Vee Monique with inspiration from Leo Almodal.
“Ever since I saw it on a runway, I fell in love with it, and I collaborated with Vee Monique and told her the colors and I flew to Chicago and got it made there,” says Lauren.
For Lauren, the gown had meaning far beyond dazzling judges, audience and peers.
“It was just very significant because it was almost like the universe on that gown. I feel like we all need to be open to the universe,” Lauren says. “There’s a quote that says, ‘Life opens up when you do.’ I heard that from Patrick Starrr. When you open up to the universe, I do believe that the universe opens back up to you. That’s what the gown represented for me: opening [myself] up to the universe and showing my true self on that stage.”
Miss International Queen is the world’s largest beauty pageant for transgender women. This past December, Tiana “Midori” Monet of Seattle was crowned Miss International Queen USA 2025. She will represent our country at the Miss International Queen pageant in Thailand. Lauren was awarded first runner-up, and following her was Khloe Rios-Wyatt of Santa Ana.
“The memorable moment, one I’m going to carry with me through my whole life, is spending a whole week with my beautiful transgender sisters,” Lauren says. “It was just so amazing to have the privilege to spend the week with them, learn from them, have late-night talks.”
Lauren found inspiration and support that led her to think on broader human connections.
“It was just so beautiful to hear all different stories, but we all had one thing in common and that was that we all share the same life, we all come from the same problems,” Lauren says. “We have our minor differences, but we’re all the same. Everyone may sound different and may look different, but we’re all human beings.”
Lauren encourages fellow Orlandoans to participate in showing up for and protecting the voices she believes are at threat of being silenced.
“We need to be writing to our representatives and we need to show up to those meetings. Show up to Tallahassee Just show up. We need to ask questions and we need to humanize ourselves,” says Lauren. “We have been dehumanized and we need to be human with one another.”
Lauren shares that her fellow transgender brothers and sisters are fearful of recent legislation that targets trans communities and youth. She posits that some of this prejudice toward the community is a result of miscommunication.
“It’s almost like when you’re going to the elevator and you put the blinders on and you don’t talk to people in the elevator,” Lauren explains. “That is wrong. We are meant to be communicating with each other, we are meant to be asking questions because we are all a collective of human beings.”
She adds, “We need to be human beings and interact with each other and ask questions to educate ourselves. A lot of people don’t understand because they’re being misled to disrespect, but if we understand the basic principle that we are all human beings — I do not need to know the specifics of your life in order to give you respect — that’s how a lot of problems are going to be fixed.”
For this year’s Trans Day of Visibility, Lauren, a plastic surgeon liaison for Dr. Ricardo Morales, will be traveling to where the surgeon is based in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
“I will be helping transgender patients who are getting their facial feminization and receiving their consultations,” Lauren says. “It’s very exciting for me and it’s an amazing opportunity to be able to give back, not just advocating, but to be there with those patients that are going to change their lives.”
As a plastic surgeon liaison, Lauren’s social media frequently educates on safe transitioning practices. She encourages people to do proper research when consulting for gender-affirming surgeries.
“When I first started my transition, I had a wonderful friend that made a lot of bad choices through their transition and wanted me to learn through their experience and not make those same mistakes,” says Lauren. “I had instances with bad doctors and bad practitioners that did not do what they were supposed to do.”
Lauren supports all people, including cis allies, educating themselves on health and safe transitioning practices.
“We now have the power and knowledge on this,” says Lauren, “I’m trying to provide information on safe transitioning practices so that trans people are able to live a longer and healthier life. Hopefully to transmit the message of doing things the right way and taking care of yourself, prioritizing your health, while still fulfilling what it takes to feel good in your own skin.”
If you’re looking to support Orlando’s trans community or educate yourself locally, there are several events happening this weekend, including a big Trans Day of Visibility celebration put on by Come Out With Pride at the Central Florida Fairgrounds on Colonial Drive at 1 p.m. Saturday. The event is free and includes speakers, artists, activities and local organizations on site with information and resources. Families are welcome.
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This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2025.