Billie McBride O’Neel is set to compete in November for Miss Trans USA.

McBride grew up in Coos Bay, lived in the Midwest and settled for a while in Arkansas with her husband while working on fixing up a house in Astoria.

She spoke out as a voice for transgender youth when Arkansas legislators tried to pass a bill that would have banned gender-affirming care for minors. Before that moment, she said she had never been vocal about going through a transition in her 20s, but she felt she needed to step up for her community.

During her time as Miss Trans Oregon, she has been part of Pride events around the state and has grown her platform.

A lot of the work McBride does is to help parents understand that their trans children will be OK.

“The reality is that you can have a long, successful, happy life, regardless of the circumstances. And I’m here to prove it to everyone. I’m going to be 62 in two months. I’m taking my retirement and using it as activism for people like me. Because unless you hear from people like me, you will believe that someone’s going to ruin their life,” McBride said.

She said she is involved in starting up a PFLAG chapter at her church. PFLAG — Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays — is a support organization geared toward LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones.

McBride will compete for the Miss Trans USA crown in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in November. The pageant follows a similar path as Miss Universe, with interview rounds, ballgown, swimwear and onstage questions.

McBride is confident in her ability to perform well onstage. She began figure skating when she was young and continued into her adult life. She also dabbled in drag performance and is a celebrity impersonator.

“I dearly love skating. I’m a fan. I’m also somewhat of an encyclopedia. And I love skaters themselves,” she said. “There’s a saying in skating: ‘If you skate long enough, eventually you get to skate with your heroes.’ And I’ve gotten to do that.”

Since putting her voice out there as an activist, McBride said she has experienced a lot of backlash, but many of her friends and family have stuck by her side.

“I’ve had all my glory. I need to use what I have in a way that’s positive so that people can see,” McBride said.