Midori Monet
is Crowned Miss International Queen USA
Anthony Schaffer
Midori Monet
is Crowned Miss International Queen USA
Anthony Schaffer
Midori Monet of Seattle, Washington, captivated the world when she was crowned Miss International Queen – USA 2025. The dazzling event, held in Las Vegas and hosted by the Be the Transformational Change Fund, celebrated the beauty, diversity, and resilience of transgender women from across the USA. For Monet, the moment was nothing short of surreal. “When I heard my name, it was like a rush of emotions—shock, glee, and gratitude all at once. It was the culmination of years of hard work and self-belief,” she shared. More than just a personal victory, Monet sees her reign as a platform for visibility and empowerment and she is ready to use her voice to uplift others and inspire future generations of transgender women to chase their dreams.
How does it feel to hold the title
of Miss International Queen USA?
Midori Monet: Winning Miss International Queen USA is a reminder that dreams can certainly come true! I’m so honored to join the legacy that is Miss international Queen USA and shine my unique light with the rest of the iconic-winning women before me. This gives me the platform to further inspire others in the same way that I was once inspired by the previous winners of MIQUSA.
Is there a particular past pageant queen that had
the most impact on you?
Midori Monet: I drew inspiration from the incredible journey of the first black winner to claim the title in Thailand: Jazelle Barbie Royal. Seeing a woman, just like me, win the title of such a prestigious pageant was truly inspiring and led me to find my own journey that I’m pursuing now. I went into the competition taking risks and sharing my unique sense of charisma and style, showcasing the beauty of my culture and sense of pride in owning who I am.
How do you plan to use your new platform to advocate
for the transgender community?
Midori Monet: As a black trans woman, every day for me being visible in my skin and out loud in my expression is seen to the outside world as an act of defiance. With my representation of standing firm in my identity, I hope to inspire others to embrace what makes them unique and shatter the harmful stereotypes that we trans women and men face on a daily basis.
Can you share a little about your journey leading up to the competition?
Midori Monet: Shockingly enough, I almost said no to enrolling! I had just finished competing for Miss Washington USA and after my top six placement, I had made up my mind that I needed time to reflect and rest. Luckily for me, my amazing recruiter for MIQ USA, Kimmie, reminded me of what an amazing opportunity the MIQ pageant could be. The enrollment fee was also covered by a generous sponsor so I figured, why not just do it? I couldn’t let an opportunity like MIQ pass me by! To my delight, I found the biggest triumph of competing to be the sisterhood that I gained along the way.
The Miss International Queen USA pageant brings trans contestants from around the USA together.
What did you learn from meeting and competing
with such a diverse group of individuals?
Midori Monet: I believe the biggest thing I learned from meeting such a diverse group of trans women was that while many of us go through similar struggles, we often employ different strategies and tools when facing our fears, struggles, and inner saboteurs. Realizing that I am not alone in my struggles and that there are multiple ways to tackle the issues that I face on a day-to-day basis empowers me to continue the battle.
What do you think gave you the edge in this year’s competition?
Midori Monet: Being a full-time performer, I am blessed to have had a background in the entertainment industry. I remember saying to my fellow contestants that being on stage is where I truly feel at home. Not only did being a full-time entertainer help, but also my previous history of being a finalist in Miss Washington USA.
In addition to the top prize, you won the national costume and talent performance categories.
Midori Monet: For my national costume, I chose to honor my background of competing in Miss Washington USA by wearing the national costume that pageant queen Samantha Galia wore to Miss USA in 2023 when she placed in the top 20 – a feat that Washington state hadn’t achieved in almost twenty years! For my talent, I chose to lip-sync an original song that I wrote and recorded for the competition. I wanted to showcase my uniqueness and bring a piece of myself to such a prestigious stage.
As a role model, what advice would you give to young trans individuals who aspire to follow in your footsteps
and compete in pageants or other fields?
Midori Monet: The best advice I can give to the younger generation is to find out what makes you unique and excel in being the best version of yourself. I like to believe that there are as many people on the earth as there are grains of sand. However, there will always and forever only be one of you! So, learn to take pride in who you are and carry that sense of identity with you proudly into any room that you step in.
What causes or initiatives are you most passionate about supporting during your reign?
Midori Monet: I’m most excited to share my passion for mental health and more specifically, self-care and love. In today’s America, being transgender feels unsettling. We’ve been told that we don’t belong in society and that we’re not worthy of love. It is making it more challenging than ever to simply navigate our own lives. Finding inner peace and self-acceptance is very important. No one understands the trans community better than we do ourselves. Loving and accepting ourselves is crucial for our survival in a world that does not take the time to understand us.
Next up is the world competition in Thailand.
How are you preparing for that pageant?
Midori Monet: I am a firm believer that Rome wasn’t built in a day and a transition isn’t done overnight. Preparing for any pageant, but especially Miss International Queen, is a massive undertaking of training and responsibility. I know burnout is a real risk, so I’m taking things slow and prioritizing my mental wellbeing. I’m not rushing into anything; I’m taking it one step at a time and focusing on being triumphant in the daily battle that is life.
Finally, what legacy do you hope to leave
as Miss International Queen USA?
Midori Monet: The legacy that I aim to leave behind is to truly take on the challenge of understanding one’s true identity and to lead a life of positivity. That doesn’t mean that life will always be sunshine and rainbows, but it does mean that that you get to choose how you react and manifest the world around you. Every moment of my life leading up to the crown was a testament to my strength and inner fortitude of knowing how I want my future to plan out. From enrolling for the competition, to having the crown placed on my head, I manifested my victory, and I feel as if the real world is no different. Once you know who you are, and put in the work to stand in your authenticity, you too will understand that the impossible is always possible.
Follow Miss International Queen – USA 2025 Midori Monet on INSTAGRAM:
@midorimonet | @MissInternationalQueenUSA
