Zoe Black, Miss Trans Global PH finalist representing Bulacan Province, garnered online attention for her bold political move in the pageant’s regional costume segment.

She was dressed as a Filipina revolutionary warrior. She wore a white Filipiniana top, with a white long skirt accessorised with a red sash for a belt, and held bolo sheath, with a makeshift bolo that had a white cloth to be unravelled when she made her introduction.

When she reached the microphone, she took out the bolo that had a white cloth, written on it was “NEVER AGAIN”, A well known phrase pertaining to the Marcos regime and Martial Law atrocities. 

She said, “I am Zoe Black, mula sa probinsya ng mga rebolusyonaryong makata, Bulacan!” (I am Zoe Black, from the province of revolutionary poets, Bulacan!)

Zoe took to Facebook and posted her video and pictures from the pageant event: “We do not need to wait and see if they will do something good because their records speak for itself. And their records say that they are thieves, frauds, abusers of power, perpetrators of corruption and greed”

She continued, “As an activist, this is my purpose. To bring the struggle in whatever spaces I take up. And however big social media, and the national stage and platform that Miss Trans Global PH gave us, the real struggle is still in the streets”

“Our struggle as queer people is intersectional and is more than just gender equality alone. We have a bigger fight ahead of us and we need all the power we can to get to topple the system that continues to silence and oppress us”

Zoe took a stand for what she believes in, and she did it bravely and boldly. She was praised by several Filipinos who shared the same sentiment, and criticised by some who don’t agree.