"Beauty pageants have made me feel that I am really good," says trans woman Martina Sobková, who represented the Czech Republic at Miss International Queen
Martina Sobková is one of the women who managed to connect her own story with professional success - she is a model, entrepreneur and editor-in-chief of the professional magazine Banking. She was born Matěj, but from childhood she felt that her identity did not fit with the way she was perceived by her surroundings. She went through the transition only in adulthood, after years of insecurity and trying to "fit in". She herself openly says that her fine features are not genetically determined, which is why she is still working hard on herself.
In 2025, she broke into the world of beauty pageants - first as one of the finalists of Miss Universe Czechia and then as the first Czech woman ever selected for Miss International Queen, the world's most prestigious pageant for transgender women. She sees pageants as a challenging discipline that combines performance, discipline and self-confidence, and which can give women not only strength but also visibility that they would otherwise struggle to gain.
Today, she shares her experience so that she can give courage to other trans women who are seeking direction at the beginning of their own transition. As she puts it: it's not just about beauty, it's about having the courage to accept yourself and find your place in the world.
When did you start to realise that your identity didn't fit with how you were perceived by others?
When I was a little girl. I was born in 1988 and grew up in a small town in Moravia, and in a Christian family. But I didn't say to myself that it didn't "fit" - rather, I just felt that something was different. I didn't attach much importance to it at the time. I often wanted to be a girl. I even prayed some nights to wake up that way. But it was a kind of my closed world. I wouldn't tell anyone because I didn't think it was normal. Gradually, I started to tell myself more and more that I was "weird", that I wasn't okay. At 15, I decided to be "normal" and tried to forget about this "world" and live like other boys. At the same time, I've always liked girls, so I figured I'd adjust accordingly. But I kept asking myself: "What's wrong with me?" It wasn't until many years later that I realized it wasn't wrong.
Was the feminine side of you evident back then?
I guess so, I was softer and a bit of a crybaby. At the same time, my childhood was very much connected with ping-pong, I played it all the time, so I didn't really worry about it myself. And even though I had partners later on and went from being a crying boy to being an athletic guy, there was still something about me.
At Erasmus, I could finally be myself. For the first time, I had a room to myself and a space where no one judged me. I was 24 and I could buy women's clothes, dress up, try on what it felt like. Then when I came back to the Czech Republic and lived with my partner again, I started to miss that a lot.
So when did you finally decide to transition?
I found a community in Prague and a friend who was a travesti. That opened doors for me. Then I decided to see a sexologist and start the journey. My gender dysphoria was already really strong at that time, even extreme. I finally decided to make a change at 26. For a long time I told myself I would conform to "normal" but I couldn't. I knew I wanted to start living the way I really felt.
How did your community react?
It was hard for my mom. But today we have a beautiful relationship. Ironically, her faith helped her a lot. My girlfriend left me, but not because she "couldn't handle the transition" - we both just realized that my life was going to fundamentally change. It was fair to break up. And friends? I'm lucky, they accepted me.
What about my colleagues at work?
I had already started my new job as a woman, so I didn't experience the contrast of before and after there. But before that, I was experiencing what a lot of trans people know: you go for an interview, everything goes well, and then they text you that they ended up choosing someone else. It's discrimination that's hard to prove. If you get rejected before you even start, you have no way of proving that your identity was the reason.
But you eventually found a job in the media...
I got a job at Banking magazine and it was okay. My boss took me as I was and that was important - after my previous experience of interviews it made a huge difference.
What actually gave you the idea to get interested in beauty pageants?
I don't think it was that I'd been dreaming of the crown since I was a little girl. It was more that I always wanted to be pretty, but a lot of surgeries didn't work out and I gave up. I had a long period of depression where I thought there was nothing I could do. It wasn't until later that I rekindled the dream.
Could it also be that you see the results of surgery more harshly than others do?
To some extent, yes, it's subjective. I'm a detail person and I see things about myself that others don't notice. But at the same time, some technical flaws are visible - like asymmetries in the face, an overshot spot near the eye, or bumps that stand out much more in photos. It sounds superficial, but when one focuses so much on passing, every detail plays a role. (If a trans person is considered by sight to be the opposite gender to the one assigned to them at birth, then we say they have *achieved* passing, editor's note).
What bothers you most about these imperfections?
The fact that I see them myself. People around me usually don't even notice them, but they come out in photos or in certain light. And when you've had so many surgeries, you want the result to look good. That's why some things bothered me so much - and why I had moments where I felt like it was bringing me down.
You say several times during the interview that it's important to look good. Why does that play such a big role for you?
Because I know how crucial passing is - not only for how I feel, but also for how those around me react. Unfortunately, people often judge by appearance. And when I saw that I still didn't look the way I wanted to, I tended to be hard on myself. I wanted to look like a woman, that's all.
Do you ever feel pressure to conform to a certain ideal of femininity?
I definitely do. I think every trans woman knows that pressure. For me, it was even stronger because I felt like I had to make up for something that other people got for free. And then when I saw that some things couldn't be fixed, or didn't go as well as they should have, it was hard to accept. Not to mention the fact that I have an irreversibly damaged nerve from one of my surgeries, causing me to have practically nonstop pressure in my face.
Has it done anything to change the way you look at yourself?
It made me realize that perfection doesn't exist - even after ten surgeries. And that transition is not just about looks, but about inner feeling. When I started to take seriously what I feel inside, and not just how I look on the outside, I became more at peace. Today, I take it for granted that even if some things aren't perfect, I'm still me. On the other hand, that doesn't mean I don't work on myself and try to improve the details - but I guess that's like every woman in the beauty world.
But didn't beauty contests contribute to all this?
No, that's how I felt before the pageant. A friend who models encouraged me to try modeling. I found a photographer, got some nice pictures, and suddenly I felt better. Then she entered me in a contest and I made it to the finals. There I was, standing among 20-year-old cis women - and I realised I was actually pretty. I was pretty good.
So they actually helped you?
Yes, tremendously. They gave me a confidence that I didn't have before. They helped me believe that I could stand on the same stage as other women.
But beauty pageants often have a lot of pressure on your appearance, especially your figure. In a previous interview, you said that you managed to lose 15 kilos to prepare for the pageant...
I didn't have to, but I wanted to fit in. It's like playing football at a certain level - you have to meet the physical requirements. I didn't think it was a bad thing, it's part of the competition. But mostly it showed me how much change I'm capable of.
What was it like for you to be a trans woman in a competition where there were cis women?
I was proud of myself. I felt like I finally belonged somewhere. I was grateful that they gave me the opportunity. While some of the things that followed weren't always pleasant, the feeling of standing alongside other women was powerful.
Many people can't imagine the reaction of those around them in mainstream beauty pageants when a trans woman is among the contestants. Did you ever experience a situation in this environment that could be described as discrimination, or were you accepted without any problems?
No, I didn't encounter discrimination there. Everything was completely fair - I made it to the final, I won the title, nobody discriminated against me. It wasn't until later that I found out that there were competitions specifically for trans women. That's when I thought, if I can compete in regular competitions, why not try trans ones? The first one was a competition in Brazil.
And it was Brazil that preceded your participation in the Miss International Queen pageant in Thailand, which is considered the absolute pinnacle of trans pageants. How much of a difference did it make?
Huge. Thailand is a world unto itself in this - it's the biggest trans pageant on the planet, basically the top global event in this category. Brazil was a wonderful experience, but Thailand... it was in a different league. I was surprised to find that the organisation of trans competitions tends to be more sophisticated in many ways than the "normal" smaller competitions. The service, the care, the professionalism - you really feel that you are in a luxurious, almost fairy-tale world.
What exactly makes the trans competitions different? What surprised you the most in that environment?
Everything. The standard was incredibly high - from the accommodation to the food to the personal approach of the organisers. In Thailand, for example, I lost my trainers during the preparations in the theatre. I just reported it and within two hours I had new ones. Each contestant was given uniforms and T-shirts for the entire stay because they knew we didn't have room to do laundry. It wasn't just luxury, it was respect.
How is the selection process for the contestants? Are there any conditions or criteria they have to meet?
Yes, there is some selection. I didn't see a single woman who was significantly overweight - most were either petite or had the typical Latin curves, hips and butt. The overall idea is to present trans women in the best possible light: as beautiful, confident, stylish and professionally prepared.
What is actually judged at these competitions?
It's primarily a beauty pageant, so the visual aspect is extremely key. But it's not just about plastic surgery - styling, ability to work with make-up, perfectly fitting outfits, overall presentation, expression, posture are all important. I had 25 outfits for a fortnight, and each one had to be well thought out. Each contestant had their own team of makeup artists because appearance is a huge part of the judging. While the entry fee is not expensive, all the dresses, prep and beauty services add up very quickly. But besides that, presentation is also extremely important - how one can speak, as the competition is looking for its ambassador in the finals. This skill is demonstrated by the contestant both in the interview with the jury and in the speech on the runway, as well as in the interaction with the other contestants, the organizers and the media throughout the competition.
It sounds like a very challenging discipline. How physically draining was it for you?
It was extremely demanding. We slept three to four hours a day, tops. At my age, it was very noticeable. By the time I was twenty-five, I could go out at night and work in the morning. Now I can make two days out of one evening. Add to that the constant comparison with others, the pressure to perform, the passarella training, the stage presence... In many ways it's like a top sport. Plus, I'm an introvert and I'm not very communicative.
Do the contestants also present their personal stories? Like a journey through transition?
Yes, although each competition approaches it a little differently. At Miss Star, we had to directly present our "story behind", i.e. the personal journey that shaped us. But at International Queen, for example, it wasn't a topic at all, where it's mainly about whether the contestant has a clear vision, message and ability to represent. My own vision comes mainly from working with children as a ping-pong coach. I don't consider myself a strong activist, but I believe that even by simply functioning in society I can contribute to people seeing trans women as natural and respectful.
Do you think personal experience plays a big role in how people accept trans people?
Definitely. It works the same for all minorities - people change their minds when they actually get to know someone. When they see a concrete person, not an abstract concept. Suddenly they realise that we are completely normal, we have our joys, our worries, our work, our relationships. But paradoxically, as a trans community, we sometimes harm ourselves - through excessive activism or public conflicts between different groups. This then distracts from what is important.
Do beauty pageants for trans women also bring some negative consequences?
Yes, of course. If you put too much emotion and energy into it, it can hurt a lot, especially if you don't win. It's also financially demanding. Even if one tries to operate on a "low budget", it's still about clothes, flights, make-up, preparations... and these are not cheap things. And if someone expects a competition to automatically boost their self-esteem or solve their inner insecurities, they may be disappointed. For me, competitions have helped a lot, but they've also pushed me to the brink of exhaustion a few times.
There are repeated opinions in the public space that trans women should not compete alongside cis women - whether in beauty pageants or in sports. What would you say to those people?
First of all, I would distinguish between two completely different disciplines: beauty pageants and sports.
In beauty pageants, a trans woman has no biological advantage, quite the opposite. If she can walk, talk and present herself better, she should win fairly. It's a competition about aesthetics and presentation, not physical parameters.
Sport is a different debate. The rules have been set wrong for a long time. I know myself that after a year on hormones, I still had a huge physical advantage from when I played sports as a man. It wouldn't have been fair there. But it's completely different for young athletes who go through transition before puberty. There, the differences practically disappear.
So for you, the key is to see the context of each situation?
Yes, exactly. With children the differences are small, with adults you need to clearly set rules that are fair for everyone. In some sports, surgery or specific physiological parameters may also play a role. But the key is to approach it rationally, not with hysteria and fear.
When trans women who dream of one day trying out for a beauty pageant watch you today, what advice would you give them? How should they start and what should they prepare for?
Feel free to email me, I'd be happy to help. A beauty pageant is a complex discipline with many things going into it, and it's good to be prepared. In the Czech Republic we have beauty pageant experts, but trans pageants have their own specifics. The biggest one is probably the fact that each contestant usually has a team, or at least an assistant. There is a huge emphasis on vision and story and, last but not least, on the fact that a trans woman who represents her country in such a contest must be proud of being trans and of her story and not ashamed of it. And I think that is the problem with the European mindset. When I went to my first competition, a lot of people asked me, "Why are you going to a trans competition and making it even more obvious that you are trans?"
People often say that beauty pageants are just superficial shows. But you describe it as a very intense experience. How intense is it really?
It's extremely challenging. And some countries really take it extremely seriously. I didn't realize the full weight of it until I was on the spot, the moment I saw the dedication and professionalism of the other contestants. But competitions are not only challenging, they can also give trans women tremendous strength. You see women who have been through violence, complicated transitions, family rejection... and yet they stand on stage proud, confident, beautiful. It's a hugely inspiring, sometimes emotional experience.
Do you feel like beauty pageants have changed your life personally?
It definitely has. When a person wins, it opens up a world they never knew before. It's an experience that is indescribable. I was the first Czech to win the International Queen, but I experienced moments that I would never have known otherwise - the reception from the mayors, the official delegation, the world attention. It's a completely different reality. You really feel like a superstar for a while. It's something that money just can't buy anywhere. And you know what's beautiful is that if a girl from the Czech Republic or Slovakia really wants to, she can experience it!
Are you thinking about coming back to a competition? Or is this chapter over?
I think it's over. It's physically, mentally and financially extremely demanding. But maybe if a really special opportunity came up, I would leave the door open a little bit. However, I'm older now and my energy and priorities are elsewhere. And it's not just about me - it's a big hit to my relationship and personal life as well.
And yet, even though you don't want to go into competitions anymore, you still obviously have a strong connection to what you've done. Does it help you to know that you were the first Czech woman to achieve this success?
Yes, very much. And most importantly, it motivates me that I don't want to be the first and the last. We have so many beautiful trans women here who could shine. And if one of them wins or goes far, it could really change her life. Competitions offer huge opportunities and I hope the next generation will come after me.
