A post shared by Teresita Ssen Winwyn Marquez (@teresitassen) on Jun 29, 2018 at 6:42am PDT

MANILA – Beauty queen Teresita “Winwyn” Marquez is not comfortable with the idea of having transwomen join the Miss Universe pageant.

Marquez made the statement as she was asked to react to the news that a transwoman was crowned Miss Universe Spain 2018.

Before stating her opinion, Marquez stressed that she has “nothing against transgenders.”

“I’m really proud na sobrang happy, out na talaga, and everyone is respecting them, di ba? Pero Miss Universe per se, sana ibigay na lang sa natural-born women,” she said in an interview with the entertainment website Pep. “Kasi there is Miss International Queen, it’s a prestigious pageant also. And Miss International Queen ay isang beauty pageant na ekslusibo para sa mga transwomen.”

“Let’s just give it to natural-born women, and for transgenders to have their own prestigious pageant,” she continued. “It’s tradition for Miss Universe.”

Nevertheless, Marquez said she will support the decision of the Miss Universe Organization should they decide to include transwomen in their list of official candidates this year.

“Kung i-allow naman ng Miss Universe Organization, then we should accept it also. Walang problema. Wala pang official statement ang Miss Universe Organization kung pahihintulutan nilang makasali si Angela sa susunod na Miss Universe pageant,” she said.

When asked if she is worried about receiving backlash from the Latino community because of her statement, Marquez replied: “Everyone is entitled to her own opinion… Kung ano man ang opinyon nila, kung gusto niyang sumali, we have to respect. And kung ayaw naman ng isa, we also have to respect that.”

“It all boils down to what the Miss Universe Organization will do. If they accept, then we all have to accept it.”

Marquez is the first Filipina to join – and win – the Latina-dominated Reina Hispanoamericana pageant. She won the competition last year.

In a previous interview, Philippine bet Catriona Gray said she has no problem competing with a transgender in Miss Universe 2018.