Transgender pageant star gives up title, withdraws from Miss Georgia USA

ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - A transgender woman from Atlanta says she will no longer be competing in the Miss Georgia USA competition.

In a social media statement, Bella Bautista, 22, said she will not take the stage at the statewide event, which will be held in June. She said she has also relinquished her Miss Buckhead USA 2025 title.

“This has been a dream that I’ve had for so many years. Something I worked for — for so many years. To have to step away is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my entire life,” she shared.

Bautista added that there are “ongoing legal proceedings,” although she didn’t offer specifics.

The 22-year-old said she was concerned about being treated equally and judged fairly in the competition.

“Put me in a place where I had to relinquish my title. Their actions no longer aligned with my ambition for inclusivity and a world free of discrimination,” Bautista wrote.

Bautista has been a trailblazer for those in the transgender community. She was to become the first transgender woman to compete in the competition.

“I hope that the visibility that I gain will light the way for the next transgender person to have a spot in that pageant,” she said.

In February, Bautista became the first openly transgender woman to announce she would be running for the Miss Georgia USA title.

The winner would then compete nationally to be named Miss USA.

“You know what, I’m just going to sign up, I’m going to wish for the best and hopefully that I am treated fairly and scored fairly as well,” she previously said in an interview about her decision to run.

Bautista said the decision to now step away has not been an easy one.

“It breaks my heart that this moment won’t come to fruition, but I remain committed to my purpose,” she said. “I entered this competition to show that transgender belong, that we are deserving of space, celebration, and the chance to pursue our dreams — nothing about that has changed."

Bautista has created a GoFundMe to help with legal expenses.

Greenwood Productions, which produces the Miss Georgia USA pageant, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Copyright 2025 WANF via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.