Miss Amazonas is a 2019 documentary directed by Rafael Polar Pin that offers a powerful and intimate portrayal of the lives of transgender women in Iquitos, Peru, as they prepare for and participate in the Miss Amazonas beauty contest. This annual event, held in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, is the longest-running trans beauty pageant in Latin America. The film sheds light on the personal transformations of the contestants, not just physically, but also emotionally and mentally, as they navigate their identities and the societal pressures surrounding gender and beauty standards.
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At the core of Miss Amazonas lies the contestants' journey of transformation. Throughout the four months leading up to the pageant, the film captures the contestants as they undergo rigorous preparation, from physical changes to a deeper exploration of their gender identity. These transformations involve more than just superficial alterations to their bodies; they encompass a shift in how they see themselves and their place in the world. The contestants engage in learning, discovery, and a process of self-affirmation, all of which are integral parts of their journey towards expressing their true selves. As they refine their appearance and learn to project their identities through their physical presence, the documentary showcases how beauty can be a tool for empowerment. However, the film also highlights the paradox of the event itself. On one hand, the pageant might appear to replicate traditional beauty ideals - reinforcing hegemonic and heteronormative standards. On the other hand, Miss Amazonas serves as a subversive space where trans women can gain visibility, challenge societal norms, and find acceptance in a city that prides itself on tolerance but still struggles with deep-rooted issues such as homophobia, discrimination, and violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
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Set in Iquitos, a city known for its perceived open-mindedness towards the LGBTQ+ community, the film explores the complexities of living in a place that, while celebrated for its purported inclusivity, still harbors conservative attitudes toward those who deviate from gender and sexual norms. The documentary paints a picture of a society where the realities of intolerance persist, even in the face of a supposed progressive environment. As the contestants prepare for the Miss Amazonas contest, their personal experiences reveal the ongoing struggle for acceptance, safety, and the right to express their identities freely. In Iquitos, like many places in Latin America, there is a palpable tension between the city’s liberal image and the discriminatory attitudes that continue to affect LGBTQ+ individuals. The film portrays how, despite this contradiction, the Miss Amazonas pageant becomes a space where trans women can take up public space, assert their identities, and challenge the conventions of beauty and gender that dominate mainstream society.
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Though the pageant could be viewed as a superficial event that perpetuates traditional beauty ideals, Miss Amazonas emphasizes its deeper meaning for the transgender contestants. For many of them, the pageant is not just a competition; it is a space of affirmation and self-expression. It provides a rare opportunity for trans women to be seen and celebrated, rather than marginalized. The contestants' participation in the pageant becomes a statement of pride, resilience, and defiance against the forces of discrimination. Through this lens, the pageant serves as a vehicle for social change, allowing these women to carve out a space for themselves in a society that often excludes them. In this context, the documentary reflects the significance of beauty contests for marginalized communities. While such events may appear frivolous or even damaging when viewed through a conventional lens, they can also be reinterpreted as platforms for empowerment. In the case of Miss Amazonas, the contestants use their participation as a means of reclaiming their bodies, their identities, and their place in society.
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The production of Miss Amazonas was a deeply collaborative process, led by director Rafael Polar Pin and his small but dedicated team. Polar began filming in 2016, working independently before receiving funding through the 2017 National Documentary Feature Film Project Contest. The film’s production was a gradual process, and it wasn’t until 2018 that Polar and his team returned to Iquitos to conduct in-depth interviews with the contestants. The film features several contestants who share their stories and experiences throughout the documentary. Each one is portrayed with deep sensitivity and understanding, as Polar and his team worked to avoid an exoticizing or detached view of their lives. In choosing which contestants to feature, the filmmakers sought individuals who were willing to open up and share their journey with the world. The selection process was organic, with some contestants more eager to participate than others. Ultimately, the film centers on a few key contestants, such as Camila, Christina, Saor, and Fiorella, each of whom brought a unique perspective to the pageant. The selection of these women was not only based on their participation in the contest but also on their personal stories and the ways in which they navigated their identities. For instance, one contestant, Christina, was at the beginning stages of her transition and found in the Miss Amazonas contest the courage to embrace her femininity. Her story highlights the role of the pageant as a springboard for self-discovery, helping Christina take the first steps toward fully realizing her identity as a woman.
One of the striking elements of Miss Amazonas is its soundtrack, particularly the song "Esta es mi fiesta" (This Is My Party), composed specifically for the film by Marina Kapoor. The song encapsulates the spirit of celebration and self-expression that defines the contestants' journey. Music plays a crucial role throughout the documentary, providing a soundtrack to the contestants’ preparation and offering emotional depth to the narrative. In particular, the film includes a sequence featuring the contestants practicing and posing for photos, accompanied by the song. This segment, which functions almost like a music video, reinforces the sense of liberation and joy that the contestants experience as they prepare for the final event. The decision to create a unique song for this moment highlights the importance of music in capturing the essence of the contestants’ journey.
Miss Amazonas premiered at the Outfest Perú festival in 2019, followed by screenings in various cities across the country, including Lima, Huancayo, Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Arequipa. It was well-received for its authentic portrayal of the transgender experience in a conservative society. The film’s ability to transcend cultural and geographical boundaries was demonstrated by its international screenings, including a successful showing in Quito, Ecuador, where viewers connected with the characters’ struggles for identity and self-acceptance. One of the key reactions to the film was from a viewer in Quito who shared how the documentary resonated deeply with her own journey of self-discovery. This demonstrates the universal themes of identity and freedom that Miss Amazonas addresses - issues that transcend national borders and resonate with LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide, regardless of their specific context.
Miss Amazonas is not just a documentary about a beauty pageant. It is a powerful narrative about transformation, self-empowerment, and the complex intersection of gender, identity, and societal expectations. Through the lens of the Miss Amazonas pageant, the film highlights the resilience of the transgender community in Iquitos and, by extension, the broader LGBTQ+ community. It shows how a seemingly superficial event can become a transformative and affirming space for marginalized individuals, allowing them to challenge norms and redefine their place in society. In the end, Miss Amazonas is a celebration of the power of visibility, resilience, and the unyielding desire to live authentically.
Image credits: YouTube
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