The 2025 Miss Maine USA competition will feature an unprecedented showdown between Bill Belichick’s girlfriend and the pageant’s first transgender contestant.
At a Glance
- Isabelle St. Cyr, 24, will become the first openly transgender contestant in Miss Maine USA history
- Jordon Hudson, girlfriend of former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, will also compete after finishing as first runner-up in 2024
- The Miss Universe Organization changed its rules in 2012 to allow transgender contestants who are legally recognized as female
- Both contestants bring unique platforms: Hudson advocates for Maine’s fishing industry while St. Cyr draws on her cheerleading background
- The competition occurs amid political tensions as the Trump administration cuts federal funding to Maine over transgender sports policies
Historic Participation Breaks Barriers
The 2025 Miss Maine USA pageant is attracting national attention as Isabelle St. Cyr prepares to make history as the first openly transgender contestant in the competition’s history. St. Cyr, who previously won the Miss Monson USA pageant, brings a background in competitive cheerleading to the state-level competition. Her participation marks a significant milestone for transgender representation in mainstream beauty pageants, particularly in more traditional states like Maine.
St. Cyr has emphasized that her motivation stems from a genuine passion for pageantry rather than political activism. Despite expressing nervousness about competing in the current political climate, she remains focused on the competition itself. The contestant has navigated previous challenges in her cheerleading career, where she faced resistance but ultimately achieved state and national titles, demonstrating her resilience in competitive environments.
High-Profile Competition
Adding to the pageant’s national spotlight is the participation of Jordon Hudson, the 24-year-old girlfriend of former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Hudson, representing Hancock, Maine, will return to the competition after placing as first runner-up in 2024. Her relationship with the 72-year-old coaching legend, who now leads at North Carolina, has drawn media attention since they began dating in 2021.
Hudson’s platform focuses on supporting Maine’s fishing industry, a cause close to her heart due to her family background. She has been vocal about preserving the state’s fishing heritage, sharing photos of her father on a fishing boat to highlight her personal connection to the issue. Her participation brings additional media attention to the competition beyond the barrier-breaking story of St. Cyr.
Changing Pageant Landscape
The Miss Maine USA pageant reflects broader changes in beauty competition policies nationwide. In 2012, the Miss Universe Organization, which oversees the Miss USA system, modified its rules to allow transgender contestants who are legally and medically recognized as female. This policy shift opened doors for contestants like St. Cyr, who noted that participants must have birth certificates listing them as female and may need medical documentation.
St. Cyr follows in the footsteps of Kataluna Enriquez, who made headlines in 2021 by winning Miss Nevada USA. The increasing inclusion of transgender contestants in traditionally conservative pageant systems represents a significant shift in these institutions. St. Cyr has praised the organization for becoming more inclusive, stating she feels proud to compete under their banner rather than with organizations less welcoming to all women.
Political Context
The pageant takes place against a backdrop of political tension regarding transgender policies in Maine. The Trump administration has recently cut federal K-12 funding to the state over policies allowing transgender participation in female sports. This federal action highlights the broader national debate surrounding transgender rights and competitive spaces, giving additional context to St. Cyr’s historic participation.
Despite the political tensions, both St. Cyr and Hudson have focused their public statements on their personal journeys and platforms rather than engaging directly with the political dimensions of the competition. The pageant itself has not issued statements regarding the political context, maintaining its focus on the competition and contestants’ individual merits and qualifications.
