Two Michigan Trans Women Bring Hometown Pride to National Pageant

Lindsey K. Taylor and Juliette Cayao will represent Michigan at Miss International Queen USA in Atlantic City on March 26–27, joining 31 contestants and highlighting community-focused platforms on trans youth, healthcare, housing, and mental health.

Lindsey K. Taylor and Juliette Cayao will represent Michigan at Miss International Queen USA, the national preliminary to the international Miss International Queen competition. The event runs March 26–27 at Harrah's Casino in Atlantic City and brings together 31 transgender women for a week of galas, workshops and shared activities. Taylor is a construction professional in Detroit and an active board member of Stand with Trans. Cayao is a Lansing-based model and Marriott assistant general manager who has raised funds for Trans Lifeline and is developing an Empowerment Closet with local partners. Key facts: - Lindsey K. Taylor oversees a $330 million mixed-use portfolio in Detroit's Corktown and focuses her platform on trans youth, accessible healthcare and affordable housing. - Juliette Cayao is a Lansing-based model and hospitality leader whose platform centers on suicide prevention, queer mental health awareness, and the Empowerment Closet initiative. - The Miss International Queen USA event runs March 26–27 in Atlantic City and includes 31 contestants from across the United States. - The pageant emphasizes community, sisterhood and participant safety, according to director Giovanni Mack, and offers a week-long program rather than a single televised show. - The U.S. winner advances to compete at Miss International Queen in Thailand later this year. Summary: The appearance of two Michigan contestants highlights visibility and community-focused advocacy within the transgender community, with both women bringing professional experience and volunteer work to the national stage. The competition is scheduled for late March in Atlantic City, and the U.S. winner will move on to the international pageant in Thailand; further developments are undetermined at this time.