Overcoming hate, Brazilian heads to Trans Miss Universe

Eloa Rodrigues (L) with her sister Ivanna Rodrigues da Conceicao (R) in the transgender model's home in Rio de Janeiro

Looking resplendent in a bejewelled red ball gown, Brazilian beauty queen Eloa Rodrigues knows how lucky she is: in the world's deadliest country for trans people, she is daring to live out her dreams.

The slender, striking 29-year-old from the Rio de Janeiro suburbs is leaving Sunday to represent Brazil at Miss International Queen in Thailand, the pageant considered the "Trans Miss Universe."

Rodrigues, the reigning queen of Brazil's top trans pageant, was raised by her aunt and grandmother in a loving, accepting home, and has had the opportunity to study at university, pursue modeling and acting, and now jet halfway around the world to the famed beach resort of Pattaya.

"I went through a lot of very difficult processes to get where I am today," she tells AFP as she prepares lunch in their comfortable, roomy home, whose beige walls are decorated with family photos -- and, in Rodrigues's room, her trophy collection.

Rodrigues, who studies social sciences at Fluminense Federal University, is reluctant to go into detail about her childhood and transition.

"But I found the strength to articulate that to my family and get them to understand and respect me -- and to myself understand and respect the processes they had to go through."

"It's important to support her dream," Ivone says. "She's given everything to get where she wants to be."

"The large majority of trans people face a reality of very scarce possibilities, dreams and affection," Rodrigues says.

The numbers on violence against trans people in Brazil are disturbing.

There were 92 such murders last year, and a total of 1,645 since 2008, according to the group's annual reports.

"I think for most trans and transvestite people I know, their biggest fear is dying," says Rodrigues.

Not that it has been easy.

It has been an uphill battle to find sponsors. She is mostly funding her travels and wardrobe herself -- with nearly 30 different outfits required.

"When I won the national title (in 2020), I got lots of hate and racism on social media."

"I want people to look at me and think, 'Wow, she did it -- so I can, too.'" 

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Originally published as Overcoming hate, Brazilian heads to Trans Miss Universe