She announced it on Facebook. Perez Hilton blogged it. Not since the repeal of Don't Ask and Don't Tell policy of the U.S. Armed Forces that an openly gay woman decided to make inroads at the beauty pageant world. This time nobody asked Molliie Thomas but she's telling. As Miss Abbey West Hollywood, Mollie will be vying for the Miss California USA crown.

As the first openly gay woman to make a first step towards the path of Miss Universe, a question would hang in the air. Are we all ready for an openly gay Miss Universe? If a Miss Universe is a woman that is supposed to be emulated by young girls, what will be the consequences of having a Miss Universe that has a rather different sexual orientation? Above all, will Miss USA and consequently the Miss Universe pageant will allow this to happen? While the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) community are gaining acceptance nowadays think of the reaction in the movie Miss Congeniality when Miss New York came out.

Finals for the pageant is slated on January 8. Miss California USA is one of most successful organizations in the Miss USA pageant. It produced six Miss USAs including the current titleholder Alyssa Campanella.