THE INTERNATIONAL PAGEANT EDITOR: Madame’Brazíl Noreaga
Trans and LGBIQ pageantry has exploded in popularity in recent years. It is very important to give an international platform to the inspiring stories of the participants, producers, and performers who work tirelessly to showcase their diverse talents.
TransBeauty Magazine decided to expand its vision of platforming Queer hidden talents in the pageant industry by building a team of editors and reporters who will cover and review the stories of hard work, grit, loss, and triumph.
THE PAGEANT EDITOR
The rigorous search for a highly qualified potential pageant editor who can give their unfettered artistic opinions and showcase the hidden stars and queens conquering pageant stages in local and international events did not take too long. The publication found a celebrated transgender advocate and a former pageant queen who agreed to take the mantle of leadership for the role.
Madame’Brazíl Noreaga of Texas, USA; has graciously accepted the position as the new Pageant Editor for TransBeauty Magazine.
NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE
Popularly known as The Army Goddess, Madame’Brazíl is a United States Army Wartime OEF/OIF Veteran, a Philanthropic Entrepreneur, Certified High-Fashion Makeup Artist, an international Pageant Judge, America's first Miss Trans USA, and with her husband, Enríque-Antonío, a proud homeowner of the only historically landmarked 'Underground House' in a progressive town called Temple, a city in Bell County in Texas.
She is the founder of nonprofit organisations, LGBTemple+ and TRANS QUEEN ORGANIZATION, and plans on opening up her historic home twice a year for scheduled tours and charitable events, which will raise funds for multiple nonprofit organisations, diversity outreach programs, and inclusive causes that will help better the future of her town’s LGBTIQ community and interests.
“Doing so, I’ve discovered my inner-strength. As I understand, other veterans may have it worse than I do.”
“Without going into too much details, so I don't tear up, the outcome of my enlistment to serve my country has left me with a few disabilities, but I refuse to be a victim of these new shortcomings. I’ll never regret my decision to protect and serve my people and country. However, I wish I had returned to the civilian world a lot less broken. Simply because, functioning everyday has become a bit challenging. I walk around with a smile on my face to hide the pain and struggles.” Madame’Brazíl said, “Doing so, I’ve discovered my inner-strength. As I understand, other veterans may have it worse than I do.”she added.
WHAT INSPIRED HER TO ENLIST IN THE ARMY
After witnessing the 9/11 attack in 2001, Madame’Brazíl placed her upcoming college plans on hold; and decided to follow in her military retired grandfather's footsteps by enlisting. She received a waiver from her high school for meeting the required number of credits to graduate at 17 years of age, when her willingness and dedication to serve her country caused her to give up the opportunity to walk on stage during her senior year graduation. But the sacrifice landed her into basic training and AIT before her scheduled senior year was completed.
DON'T ASK DON'T TELL
Madame’Brazíl's enlistment as a (13-Bravo) Field Artillery soldier was during the time of the 'Don't ask, Don't tell' political era which was a dark period for LGBTIQ+ American service people living in stealth and in constant fear of being outed and discharged from service.
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on military service of non-heterosexual/non-cisgender Americans to serve in the military as long as they remained closeted. The policy was enshrined in a federal statute passed by Congress in 1993, and went into effect in 1994, until it was repealed 2011.
“So not only was I closeted, growing up in a strong Christian household made life insanely difficult. But in order for me to serve my country, I was forced to remain as a closeted person,” Madame’Brazíl painfully recalls.
She enlisted for two-terms during wartime, and honourably served the United States Army courageously; with the right to count many positive achievements, including: being one of six soldiers who possessed an interim top secret clearance. In 2003, she was selected to perform the Color Guard for President George H. W. Bush and the surviving Tuskegee Airmen in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 2017, Madame’Brazíl served as Grand Marshal for the first Pride in Eagle Pass, Texas. She was also selected as one of five trans women keynote speakers at the San Diego LGBT Community Center in 2018, where she accepted the organisation's first Transgender Trailblazer Award.
"My TBI (traumatic brain injury) causes memory loss and the retention of information… So when approached with the honor of being considered for TransBeauty Magazine’s Pageant Editor, I had no idea I’d be considered due to my difficulties and challenges with writing without grammatical errors.” Madame’Brazíl said. “For however long this opportunity presents itself, I’ll cherish it for as long as my memory allows me to.” She concluded.
Through her positive attitude in life, Madame’Brazíl uses her social platforms to educate and inspire people, reminding those living with disabilities that they too can turn their weaknesses into strengths.
TransBeauty Magazine is proud to have Madame’Brazíl Noreaga as its newest member of team who are giving international spaces to the LGBTIQ community to tell their stories.
Follow and contact her on the following:
https://www.facebook.com/brazil.noreaga
https://www.instagram.com/madamebrazilnoreaga/
Cover Star: Madame’Brazíl Noreaga
Photographer: Jonathan Treviño
Makeup Artist: Ez Brezzy
Wardrobe: Rose Short
Hair: Olivia Delye
Editor: Winter Windsor
Typesetter: S.I
