Bailey Anne Kennedy Turns into First Trans Miss Maryland USA

Bailey Anne Kennedy has grow to be the primary transgender girl to carry the title of Miss Maryland USA.

On Saturday, June 1, Kennedy, 31, made historical past when she was topped on the finish of the pageant in Bethesda, Maryland. She can also be the primary Asian American and navy spouse to win the title, per native outlet DC Information Now.

In an Instagram put up on Tuesday, June 4, the newly topped pageant queen opened up about how her id has performed a job in her profession, writing candidly about how she offers with detractors.

“Not everybody has to agree with the areas that you simply occupy, and it doesn’t imply that you simply aren’t worthy of those alternatives,” she started the put up, alongside a photograph of herself tearing up as she gained the competitors.

“The work that I’ll do for the rest of my life is to make it possible for youngsters who really feel like me won’t ever have to fret in regards to the penalties of being who they’re by merely being myself and being a constructive contribution to society,” she continued.

“For the longest time, I by no means had the necessity to inform anybody,” she added. “Not as a result of it’s a secret nevertheless it’s none of anybody’s enterprise. To those that matter to me, they don’t care. People who care about understanding such personal & private particulars, don’t matter.”

Kennedy — whose husband is a U.S. Marine — has lengthy been an advocate for navy spouses, and has cited the USO as one among her platforms.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is right here! How rapidly are you able to remedy it? Play now!

“I am unable to wait to start out my reign and get again to the USO workplace, and begin serving lunches & personally thank our lively obligation service members like I initially plan to yesterday as a result of that’s what really issues to me,” she concluded her caption.

Following her win, she instructed DC Information Now that claiming the Miss Maryland USA title was a “whirlwind.”

“I knew it was greater than me. I knew it was going to imply quite a bit for all of the LGBTQ children on the market who may really feel like they don’t belong in a field — like me rising up,” she mentioned, including that she felt the total assist of her “sisterhood” of her fellow opponents.

Kennedy additionally spoke candidly about her age — she additionally usually advocates for what she calls “Magnificence With out an Expiration Date” as one other one among her platforms.

By no means miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free every day e-newsletter to remain up-to-date on one of the best of what PEOPLE has to supply, from superstar information to forcing human curiosity tales.

“I felt assured in my very own pores and skin at 31, which is previous the previous age restrict, which is 28 — as you already know, the Miss Universe Group [has lifted] the restriction now — so each girl of all ages can compete,” she instructed the outlet.

She additionally shared that she “hopes [her pageant win] will open up some doorways, open up some hearts for individuals to see that there are various facets of the LGBT neighborhood on the market, and I hope I is usually a constructive contribution to society in making a distinction just like the USO program I’m working with.”

Kennedy is subsequent set to compete for the title of Miss USA in Los Angeles on August 4.