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The newly crowned Miss Utah is breaking boundaries by becoming the first openly bisexual contestant to compete for the Miss USA title in the pageant's nearly 70-year history.


Rachel Slawson, 25, was named Miss Utah USA on Saturday after competing in the pageant five times. While celebrating her victory, she took to Instagram to share a candid message about her struggles with bipolar disorder and 'coming to terms' with who she is as a 'queer woman.'

'The last time I tried to end my life I was 19 years old, and it was the night I lost Miss Utah USA. "Why wasn’t I enough?" This is my 7th pageant, my 5th time competing at Miss Utah USA, and tonight I finally experienced hands down the biggest dream of my life,' she wrote.

Rachel said she was able to accept her bisexuality after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, noting that was her mental illness was the reason she 'had such an extreme reaction to losing a pageant.' 

'The only difference between tonight, and the night I left broken-hearted wishing I wasn’t alive, is that I knew I was enough before I arrived,' she explained. 'I am so grateful for this crown. And I promise to do right by Utah and spend this year sharing my truth.