Marina Machete Reis, 28, of Palmela, Setubal, Lisbon, Portugal is not only the first transwoman to compete in Miss Universe Portugal. She is also the first transwoman to win the title.
Marina Machete
Machete loves spending time with nature and animals. Her parents currently have one dog and eight cats.
Since Machete was a teenager, she has been involved in many social projects in Portugal. She felt like she had to fight for her rights at the time.
In 2018, Machete started working as a flight attendant. She is fluent in Portuguese and English.
Miss Universe Portugal 2023
On October 5, 2023, Machete represented Palmela at Miss Universe Portugal 2023 and competed against 16 other candidates at the Borba Events Pavilion in Borba, Portugal. She won the title.
Runner-up to Machete was Diana Lopes of Guimarães while Elisabete Abreu of Câmara de Lobos was second runner-up. Barbara Gavaia of Setubal won the Miss Popular and Miss Photogenic awards and finished in the Top 8.
It was the 71st edition of the national beauty pageant that selects Portugal’s Miss Universe candidate. The country was represented in the international beauty pageant by the winner of Miss Portugal from 1960 to 1962, in 1965, from 1970 to 1974, in 1979, from 1981 to 1990, from 1992 to 2001, Miss Universe Portugal in 2011 and from 2014 to 2017 and Miss Republica Portuguesa from 2018 to 2021.
Miss Universe 2023
On November 18, 2023, Machete will represent Portugal at Miss Universe 2023 in San Salvador, El Salvador. She will compete against more than 80 other candidates, including Rikkie Kolle, 22, of the Netherlands, who is also a transwoman.
Also competing for the title are Camila Avella, 28, of Colombia and Michelle Cohn, 28, of Guatemala. They will make history as the first married woman to compete in Miss Universe.
If Machete wins Miss Universe 2023, she will be the first transwoman to win the title and the competition’s first titleholder from Portugal. The country’s most recent placement was at Miss Universe 2022 when appointed Miss Universe Portugal 2022 Telma Madeira finished in the Top 16.
CONAN Daily 