Dubis Yepez, professional stylist and beauty salon owner, will be crowned Gay Queen of Carnival in Cartagena next month.
El Tiempo asked Yepez if he had always dreamed of becoming a queen, to which he responded, “We all dream of being queen of something. But my reign will also have a social component: to work to change the image of trans people in Colombia.”
“I’m from San Juan Nepomuceno and I left the town very young,” Yepez said, “Now I am an activist for GBLT [gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender] rights in Barranquilla.”
Yepez came out of the closet at the age of 17, but says he had always known that he wanted to be a woman. His parents had trouble understanding, but Yepez was already living independently when they found out.
The new queen-to-be has had breast implants and liposuction, but has not had full sex-change surgery.
Yepez plans to pay his respects to the former queen of Barranquilla, Estercita Forero, during this year’s carnival.