SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane is now home to a true champion of change and representation.
Beyoncé Nieves made history this year by being crowned Miss Trans USA 2024. As the first-ever Afro-Latina to win this title, Nieves is not only an inspiration to the trans community, but also a beacon of hope and progress for Spokane as a whole.
Her victory marks a milestone for both the pageant and her personal journey — one that blends her passion for charity, activism and her deep gratitude for the community that supported her along the way.
Nieves, who moved to Spokane from New York, described the moment of winning as “life-changing.”
"It was surreal," she said.
Nieves credits much of her success to the supportive environment she found in Spokane. While she grew up in New York, Nieves says the opportunities she received in Spokane helped shape her into the person she is today.
"Growing up in Spokane actually gave me the opportunity to live a beautiful life. I don’t think I would have had the same opportunities in New York," she explained.
Throughout her career, Nieves has been an advocate for gender and racial equality. She’s been deeply involved in charity work for years, and this commitment was a key aspect of her pageant performance.
"I love charity work; I love giving back," Nieves shared. "I’ve always done it for many years."
Her dedication to giving back is not just a personal value, but also a central pillar of the Miss Trans USA competition, which emphasizes activism and community support.
As Miss Trans USA, Nieves is keenly aware of the platform she now holds, and she intends to use it to spotlight both the trans community and Spokane itself.
"The legacy I want to leave behind is simple: to tell people that we are here, we are not invisible, and we are not going anywhere," she said.
In addition to beauty and poise, contestants at the Miss Trans USA pageant are also evaluated based on their charitable work. For this competition, Nieves partnered with the Lavender Rights Project, a Seattle-based nonprofit that advocates for Black and gender-diverse communities. Through her involvement in the pageant and other events, Nieves has helped raise over a million dollars for the Lavender Rights Project.
"We want love, we want respect, we want equality — but most of all, we want love," Nieves explained. "And that’s what Lavender Rights speaks to".
As Miss Trans USA, Nieves plans to use her reign to push the message of unity.
“You know, I use the egg situation as a demonstration," she said. "You’ve got brown eggs, white eggs, green eggs, and red eggs — but when you crack them, we’re all the same on the inside.”
Her message is simple but powerful: our differences may be visible, but at our core, we all share a common humanity.
Looking forward, Nieves is excited not only to continue her advocacy but also to showcase Spokane to a wider audience.
“I want people to know that we’re here. It’s always the smaller cities that have the special gems inside that people don’t realize are there,” she said.
Nieves plans to invite the Spokane community to her celebration event at Nyne Bar and Bistro on December 20th, where she will be holding a fundraising event for local charities. The event will feature multiple raffles, with all proceeds going to support causes important to Nieves and her community. Nieves also intends to meet with local city leaders to discuss further initiatives that can help raise awareness and provide opportunities for Spokane’s underrepresented communities.
As Miss Trans USA 2024, Beyoncé Nieves embodies the spirit of change, representation, and love. Her victory is not just a personal achievement but a victory for the Spokane community and all those who seek to be seen, heard and valued.