There’s a particular chaos in morning interviews that I’ve come to love.
You know the routine: rummaging for the perfect lipstick, readjusting a camera angle that refuses to cooperate, and that frantic moment when you realize you need better lighting. And that’s just me before my guest comes on. But nothing quite compared to the fabulously frenetic energy of Midori Monét, who recently sashayed her way to the snagging the crown as Miss International Queen USA.
“Let me just put on a lash in like two seconds if that’s okay,” she told me, pausing to apply finishing touches to her look. In record time, she’s transformed from a soft-spoken morning voice to the effortless glam queen the world has come to expect. But beyond the pageantry sparkle, Midori has a story that radiates heart and passion.
“I am a full-time entertainer, community member, and organizer,” she says warmly. “I am a ballroom house mother, a sister, a daughter, and a friend that anybody would want to have.” In this self-introduction, Midori gave me a glimpse into her world. She may wear many hats (and crowns), but she dons them all with the grace of a seasoned professional and the heart of a nurturing caregiver.
Recounting the moment on the Miss International Queen USA stage, she laughed about a piece of advice given backstage right before her name was announced: Don’t let your emotional meltdown make for an unflattering photo. When her name was finally echoed through the venue, the myriad emotions threatened to sweep her off her feet.
“So many things, so many things,” she said with a smile, recalling the moment she realized she’d won. “Mentally, I was like, ‘Is this real?’ but also like, ‘Okay, don’t get too caught off guard. We want to make sure we take a good photo!’”
The result shows her exuding absolute regal joy with no running mascara. More than anything, she felt victorious and proud. Not only had she earned the right to represent on an international stage, but she joined a small but powerful sisterhood: “I am a part of the legacy of being the third Black winner ever since the franchise has been here,” she shared. “I’m really honored to be a part of this experience and to shine my unique story.”
Her journey to the top was no small feat. She recalls competing in Miss Washington USA, a cis pageant, and placing in the top six. The moment was bittersweet; she believes her self-doubt undermined her final performance. “I told myself that as a trans woman, I don’t belong here…I felt as if I let myself down,” she admitted.
Yet, as luck (or fate) would have it, an opportunity to compete in Miss International Queen landed in her lap. Although initially hesitant, a recruiter convinced her to accept. Initially reluctant to take a chance, she decided to dive right in. In just two months, she compiled a pageant package of clothes and routines, many of which she designed herself, and threw herself headlong into the competition.
And as the world knows, it paid off in the best possible way. But life for Monét isn’t all stage lights and celebratory confetti.
She recounted a recent trip to Houston and the unease she felt, being trans in Trump's America, on going into public bathrooms. But she’s determined trans folks remain resolute in the face of adversity. “We need to be visible,” she stated plainly. We need to stand up and use our voices to show everyone that we are thriving.”
Part of that effort means leaning into the community. Hate might be loud, but Midori believes trans folks, especially trans women of color, can be louder when standing together. “We are human beings,” she underscored. We have hearts and emotions and feelings just like everyone else.”
The next significant milestone in her pageant journey is competing in Thailand for the Miss International Queen crown. She can hardly contain her excitement at the thought. “I’ll be competing against the best of the best [from] every nation,” she said. “And my goal is to not only go there and enjoy myself…but to also showcase what USA has.” She’s ready for the challenge, from the pageant in Thailand to the politics in the United States. This isn’t just about winning a trophy and a title but honoring trans history and solidarity, proving diversity is America’s not-so-secret weapon.
I asked Midori what message she wanted to share on today’s Trans Day of Visibility. Her piece of advice felt both timely and timeless. “I would love all of the younger generations to know that you can do anything,” she reflects. “It doesn’t matter what other people are telling you…If you believe what you believe, then stand in that. Stand in your truth. And don’t allow the opinions of the outside world dictate what your future is.”
For Midori Monét, the crown isn’t just an accessory. It’s a promise she makes to herself and her community. It’s a promise to show up, speak up, and spark change wherever she goes. And if anyone is living proof of that, it’s this unstoppable queen. If Midori has taught us anything, it’s that in the grand production of life, every last one of us deserves to be seen.
And if we let ourselves, we might discover that the stage has been waiting for us all along.
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