Our Mission | Trans USA Pageantry

About Trans USA

An Overview of Our 501(c)(3) Organization

Founded in Milwaukee, WI, in 2018, Trans USA is a registered 501(c)(3) that strives to celebrate and promote the development of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming leaders as visible advocates and role models for the community at large.

Our vision is to provide truly accessible opportunities for community members to gain valuable professional skills, foster meaningful connections among grassroots leaders and organizations, and develop a transformative national space for the sharing of knowledge and resources at this critical juncture for our community.

Download Our 2026 Organization Guide

Rewriting the Narrative, One Sash at a Time

Narratives, storytelling, and the ability to create meaning—These are what define us as a truly unique human species. Part of our dehumanization as trans people has been a systematic, deliberate attack on our ability to control our own narratives, amounting to an attack on our humanity itself.

Individually, our representatives refine their own narratives and engage in grassroots efforts that substantially improve the lives of trans and non-binary people in their local communities. Collectively, these efforts constitute a full-fledged movement with the power to shift the dominant cultural narrative from one of victimhood to one of agency, resilience, and power.

The representation that our inclusive pageantry model provides has allowed trans people to take back the pen, so to speak, and to take those steps to regain control of not just their narrative but their humanity. In these new narratives, we become symbols of hope. We become bridges to opportunities and voices for those not yet ready or able to speak their truth.

The sash itself becomes a symbol, the title a tool that unlocks doors to spaces from which so many of us have been restricted.

Our inclusive pageantry model that rejects the idea that we are victims, that those “on the ground” doing the hard are “on the bottom”, and that leadership, advocacy, and representation are terms that of an exclusive club that is tightly controlled by our own community’s elites.

It’s a model that emphasizes the astonishing power we have when our individual work, actions, and voices—no matter how seemingly small—add together.

Why Pageantry?

A Platform with a Purpose

While national and international representatives of traditional, cis-centered pageantry organizations have long been regarded as “the standard” by which we judge the appearance and presentation of those around us, the rich history of pageantry within the LGBTQ+ community tells a different story—one that has evolved into a full-fledged movement with the ability to unite, organize, and empower diverse groups to achieve a common goal. At a time when many in the community are feeling powerless, inclusive pageantry represents an oft-overlooked vehicle through which individual community members can feel empowered to take a stand and spark real change; develop their skills as leaders in their respective communities; and inspire others within these communities to take action themselves—to become the heroes and role models they needed in times of crisis.

What Do Trans USA Representatives Do?

In general, Trans USA representatives take on the responsibility of serving as active leaders within the transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming community; maintaining visibility as positive role models for trans youth and the community at large; and engaging in opportunities that promote productive discussions at multiple and often intersecting levels.

For some, this means speaking on the steps of the state capital, testifying in front of congress, founding and leading their own non-profit organizations, or conducting a nationwide advocacy campaign to raise thousands for charitable causes. For others, this means directly mentoring trans and non-binary youth, developing and disseminating educational content at professional conferences, or using advanced technical skills to support individuals and organizations on the front lines of the fight for trans rights as human rights.

The impact of these collective efforts cannot be understated: Updated projections suggest that, in 2024, our 86 representatives likely raised an estimated total exceeding $500,000 for their local partner charities across the country (1).

(1) In 2024, 12 individuals provided written documentation revealing roughly $100,000 in funds raised. Post-event interviews with several individuals unable to attend revealed at least another $50,000 to $75,000 raised, while social media posts from various fundraisers provided additional data for at least 10 other participating contestants. The rough estimate of $500,000 across 86 contestants is based on the average amount raised when data were available and considers factors such as high-fundraising and non-fundraising teams. More accurate data will be collected in future years. It should be noted that the leaders of Trans USA take no salary, and all money raised each year goes directly to supporting our community programming, representatives, and their advocacy projects.