Transgender pageant queen Bella Bautista has relinquished her title as Miss Buckhead USA and stepped down from her historic spot in the Miss Georgia 2025 pageant.
Bautista, who began her pageant journey in December 2024 at the Miss International Queen USA competition and has since used her platform to advocate for trans rights, published a statement on March 17 detailing her decision to leave the Miss Georgia USA pageant.
“When I joined this pageant, I did so with the hope of breaking barriers, inspiring others, and showing that representation matters,” she wrote on Instagram. “However, after deep reflection, I have come to the decision that the organization’s affiliations and actions no longer align with my personal values and my mission for inclusivity and a world free of discrimination.”
Miss Georgia USA is produced by Greenwood Productions, headed by President Kim Greenwood. Greenwood and her husband, country musician Lee Greenwood, are both public supporters of President Donald Trump and attended his inauguration in January.
Bautista is pursuing legal action against Greenwood Productions, but due to these legal proceedings, she is currently unable to publicly detail why she had to leave the pageant or why she is suing the company.
“[T]he truth will unfold, and justice will be served soon,” she wrote.
Bautista has set up a GoFundMe for her lawsuit against Greenwood Productions, as well as her preparations to again make history at her next pageant and finish her degree.
Georgia Voice has reached out to Greenwood Productions for comment. Updates will be published as they are made available.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
